Love In Catalina Cove

“She’s a big girl. I’m sure she can take care of herself.”

He almost told her the worst thing any woman could tell him was her thoughts of his daughter. “Maybe. But then that’s why I’m her father. I decide when she can take care of herself, as well as what’s best for my daughter. I don’t need anyone else suggesting otherwise.”

Evidently she had picked up on the annoyance in his voice that he wasn’t trying to hide. “Sorry, Sawyer. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

He fought back the urge to tell her she was of no significance to upset him. Instead he said, “You didn’t.”

He went back to reading the agenda, letting her know as far as he was concerned, their conversation was over. He was glad she had the good sense to take the hint as she eased away from him to sit up straight in her chair and look over her own copy of the agenda.

Moments before the meeting was to start Vashti walked through the door. Sawyer felt a tightening in his groin as he looked at her and noticed several people had turned to peer in her direction as well. Some were smiling and there were several others who were whispering. Her return to the cove certainly was arousing interest with folks.

As she crossed the floor to take a seat, he couldn’t help checking her out. She had changed out of her shorts and tank top and was wearing a black pencil skirt and white blouse. He thought the skirt did a lot to emphasize her shapely figure and long gorgeous legs.

Her hair was not in the ponytail she’d worn when he’d seen her at the café, but was flowing down her shoulders in what appeared to be a bevy of soft curls. She was wearing makeup, but not enough to make her look made-up. It looked more natural on her and he thought it enhanced her radiant beauty.

Several older people approached her, and all but pulled her from the chair to give her hugs. He could tell by her expression she was surprised by the interchange. That made him wonder if perhaps she thought that even after fourteen years people would still concern themselves with the identity of her baby’s father. There was no doubt in his mind that there were some who might, but he would think most people would have the sense to move on and accept that although they had acted like asses before, they wouldn’t now.

He discovered how wrong he was in his assumption when Rachel leaned over to him and said, “If you’re wondering who she is, her name is Vashti Alcindor. Poor thing, she left the town in shame years ago when she got pregnant. She kept the baby’s father’s identity a secret, and of course, that made a lot of tongues wag.”

He had a feeling hers was one of those tongues. He glanced over at her. “Really? I never knew keeping your business to yourself was a crime. Besides, I’m sure she wasn’t the only person in this town keeping secrets.” There was no need to tell her that he’d been enlightened about a few of hers.

Again, she had the good sense to ease away from him. It was then the chairman of the board called the meeting to order.

* * *

VASHTI LEANED CLOSE to Bryce, who’d made it to the meeting just before the doors closed. “Why didn’t you tell me Sheriff Grisham was on the zoning board?”

“It’s just temporary while Henry Smith recuperates from hip surgery. Besides, I didn’t think it mattered.”

Vashti wanted to think it didn’t but each time she looked at the head table where he sat it seemed his gaze was on her. Or was she imagining it? No, she was certain she wasn’t. It might seem to others like he was looking out over the crowd, but she was convinced he was not. What other reason could there be for the way she felt like she was on fire, burning from the inside out? Or the way every single hormone in her body seemed to sizzle? More than once she tried breaking eye contact with him but as if with a mind of its own, her gaze unerringly went back to him.

“You and the developer are up next,” Bryce leaned over and whispered. “Good luck.”

Vashti felt she would need it, although she’d been surprised at the number of people who’d come up to her before the start of the meeting, saying how glad they were to see her and to welcome her back home. Evidently the reason she’d left meant nothing to them anymore. In truth, she’d left to go off to school. The reason she’d never come back was another matter, one they seemed eager to forget.

“Next on the agenda is Vashti Alcindor and a representative from the Barnes Group,” Larry Stillwell, chairman of the zoning board, who owned the only drugstore in town, said, his voice sounding loud through the microphone.

Drawing in a deep breath, Vashti stood and strolled toward the front of the room where she was joined by the man she’d met when she arrived, Palmer O’Connell of the Barnes Group. The entire room was quiet. Typically, Vashti wouldn’t be nervous speaking before a crowd of any size since she was used to doing so as part of her profession. However, knowing that some of these townspeople would be looking at her with a critical eye was somewhat unnerving.

She tried convincing herself whatever they thought about her back then didn’t matter and what they thought of her now didn’t matter either. She had property she wanted to sell, and she preferred they not get in the way of her doing so. But then, what unnerved her more than anything was that even if she’d imagined Sawyer Grisham’s gaze on her before, it was definitely on her now.

She was handed the microphone and was about to speak when Reid Lacroix stood. “I have something to say.”

Vashti’s heart began pounding. She wondered what was going on. Reid Lacroix’s opinion about anything still carried a lot of weight in this town since his blueberry plant employed a number of people living in the cove. He was not someone you wanted as your enemy. She also knew Mr. Lacroix was completely against change of any kind and over the years he’d been instrumental in keeping developers out of the cove. There was no reason for her to think this time would be any different. By him wanting to have his say now might mean there would not be a need for any vote later, so she and the developer would be wasting their time.

As far as she was concerned, his request was out of order; however, she knew that there was no one here who would tell him that. Instead the chairman of the board took the microphone from her and passed it to him with a huge smile. “Yes, by all means, Mr. Lacroix.”

She met the older man’s gaze, expecting the worst. “I heard you’d returned to town, Ms. Alcindor, and I want to join in with the others and say, welcome home. We’re glad to see you back, regardless of whether it’s permanent or temporary. It always does our heart good whenever one of our own returns.”

Vashti stared at the man, stunned. That was definitely not what she had expected him to say. As she looked into the depths of his dark eyes, she saw a sincerity in them that surprised her. In a public place he had welcomed her back. His opinion mattered and he’d effectively made it clear to everyone that she was welcomed back and if anyone felt otherwise they would be going against him. Why? Was he letting her know that he knew the truth about who fathered her child?

“Now, Ms. Alcindor, you may continue.” Mr. Lacroix, smiling, passed the mike to her.

“Thank you, Mr. Lacroix. I truly appreciate that,” she said. And she truly meant it.

* * *

“VASHTI DEANNA ALCINDOR. It’s been a while.”

Vashti smiled at the man who engulfed her in a huge bear hug. She needed it as the prospect of getting ten million dollars from the sale of Shelby by the Sea was gone. She had said her piece, asking the zoning board to consider the advantages that bringing a tennis resort could bring to the cove, before introducing the developer. He’d done a great job explaining to everyone how the proposed tennis resort could benefit the town and the boost it would give to the local economy.

Everyone seemed to show interest and had even asked questions—more positive than negative. However, in the end, no matter how excited the residents of the town seemed, the decision belonged to the zoning board. In the end there were eight board members voting against the resort and only two for it: Kaegan and Sheriff Grisham.

“Kaegan, it’s so good to see you,” she said, when he finally released her. She stared into his face. He looked the same, just older. More mature. Still handsome as ever, even more so. And he still had more hair on his head than she did. “I understand you took over your family’s business. I was sorry to hear about your parents.”

“Thanks.”

“And you’re on the zoning board. I think that’s great and thanks for the yes vote.”

“For all it’s worth, I agree with that developer. A tennis resort coming here would boost the economy. But I don’t have to tell you some people are satisfied to let things stay as they are. Then they wonder why their kids grow up and move away. Only a few return.”

Vashti nodded again as she glanced around. “I was going to thank Sheriff Grisham. I’m surprised he voted yes.”

“I’m not,” Kaegan said. “Sawyer moved here from a progressive city. Besides, he has a teenage daughter and that resort’s perks, especially the free tennis lessons, were great. I just hate you’re losing the deal. I heard they had offered you a lot of money for the place.”

“They did. More than I had dreamed of getting, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

She glanced around again. “I don’t see Sheriff Grisham.”

“He left as soon as the meeting was over.”

“Oh, I see,” she said, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She had really wanted to thank him, like she’d thanked Kaegan. She was glad they had voted their conscience and not the way Reid Lacroix had wanted them to.

“Mr. Lacroix didn’t seem upset that you and the sheriff didn’t vote with him.”

Kaegan shrugged dismissively. “Lacroix is used to it. He knows both Sawyer and I will speak our minds and not sugarcoat anything either. I honestly believe he respects us for it.” Kaegan didn’t say anything for a moment and then he said, “To be fair to Reid Lacroix, he’s the one who encouraged me to join the board.”

“He did?”

“Yes. He’s changed, Vashti. For the better. I heard he hasn’t been the same since his wife and son passed away within six months of each other.”

Vashti looked away when memories she’d put to rest years ago suddenly surfaced. At that moment she felt pain. Real pain. And it was pain she didn’t want to feel.

“He sure did take a stand tonight where you were concerned.”

Vashti glanced back at Kaegan. “What do you mean?”

“That speech he gave to welcome you back to town. It will put an end to any negativity toward you while you’re here. Heck, you saw the crowd surrounding you after the meeting, following his lead and welcoming you back like the Great Oz had not only spoken, but had given his blessings on your return. I wonder why he did it.”

Vashti refused to look away again. Instead she looked at Kaegan and shrugged. “I have no idea. I guess he was being nice. And it really wasn’t necessary since I’m leaving town on Friday.”

“You just got here.”

“Yes, but I’ve stayed longer than I intended to do.”

He nodded. “Did you go by Shelby’s?”

“Yes. It brought back a lot of good memories.”

“Yet you were okay with that developer tearing the place down.”

It wasn’t a question but a statement and she heard the censure in his voice. “Yes, I need closure, Kaegan.”

He looked at her for a long moment before asking, “What are your plans for tomorrow night?”

“As far as I know I don’t have any. Why?”

“Tomorrow will mark the second anniversary of my return to the cove. I’ve invited a few friends over for beer, fried fish, crabs, oysters and shrimp. Sort of an old-fashioned seafood roast. How about dropping by my place around eight? I’m still at my parents’ home but building my own place next door. I’d love to show you what I’ve done so far.”

“And I’d love to see it.”

“So will you come?”

She looked down at the floor and then she looked back at him. “That invitation extends to Bryce, right?”

She watched his chin tighten. “Sure. Why not?”

“You tell me, Kaegan.”

“Why don’t you ask her?” he said gruffly.

“I did, but she won’t tell me anything.”

He chuckled derisively. “Funny. I remember a time when she would tell you everything. I learned that people have a tendency to change on you, in a blink of an eye.”

Vashti bristled at his words. If he was insinuating something against Bryce, then she would take offense to it. “What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing. So, will you come?”

“Only if Bryce agrees to come with me.”

He seemed to weigh her ultimatum, then said, “Fair enough. Now let me walk you to your car. I heard you got a ticket the other day.”

She started to say something flippant like was it possible for anyone to have any secrets in this town, but immediately she knew the answer. Yes, it was possible. Hadn’t she been harboring her one and only secret for years?

CHAPTER SEVEN

USING THE SPARE key Bryce had given her, Vashti entered Bryce’s home to find her sitting at the kitchen table drinking a glass of wine. “I can’t believe you left, Bryce.”

Bryce, who’d changed into a comfortable-looking sleeveless flowing caftan, shrugged, causing one to notice how the material rested perfectly against her to-die-for breasts. Vashti remembered how she and Bryce were ecstatic at the prospect of having breasts when they were preteens. They would often stand in front of a mirror to see whose were growing faster than the other. Bryce was always the winner. Even before their thirteenth birthdays it had become obvious that Bryce would have a perfect pair. It had taken Vashti’s pregnancy to show what she called major improvement to her breasts, which ended when her pregnancy did. Her girls were alright, and Scott had never complained, but she always thought compared to Bryce’s she was underdeveloped.

“You had your own transportation and I knew you were okay. Besides, after the meeting a crowd descended on you like the prodigal daughter, thanks to Reid Lacroix. What do you think that was about?”

Now it was Vashti who shrugged. “I don’t know but if you’re wondering about it, others will do the same.”

“They might, but even if they are, they won’t whisper those thoughts out loud for fear it will get back to Mr. Lacroix. For some reason you’re on his good side, even though you were trying to bring a developer into town. That alone should have placed you at the top of his shit list.”

Vashti nibbled on her bottom lip. “Do you think perhaps he found out?”

Bryce took another sip of her wine. “I honestly don’t know, Vash. If he did I would think his attitude toward you would be just the opposite and your name would not only head his shit list but would end it as well. But then I’d be the first to admit his attitude changed in a lot of ways after Julius and Mrs. Lacroix died.”

Vashti nodded. “That’s what Kaegan said.” She noticed Bryce’s reaction when she’d said K-Gee’s name.

“So he did manage to find his way over to you, did he?”

Vashti frowned. “Is there a reason Kaegan should not have?”

“No, I guess not.”

“Bryce, I wish you would tell me what’s really going on with you two.”

Bryce shook her head and Vashti saw a tear fall from Bryce’s eyes. She quickly moved toward Bryce and captured her hand in hers. “What is it?”

Bryce shook her head as more tears flowed. “I’m just not ready. I want to enjoy this time while you’re here. Can we please do that? I promise, someday I’ll share, but not today.” Bryce’s eyes implored her to let it go, and Vashti didn’t want to cause her friend any pain and Bryce was asking her only to respect her wishes, like Vashti had done fourteen years ago when she had left town and mandated that she hadn’t wanted to know anything about the happenings in the cove. She’d preferred not knowing.

Bryce had broken that rule only once. That had been seven years ago when she’d called to tell her about Julius’s death. Vashti had mourned the loss of the guy who’d fathered her child and the first and only man she’d loved. For years she had hated him for not accepting his part in her pregnancy and when he’d died she had let go of her dream that one day he would show up in New York for her. Or to at least explain why he’d done what he had when she had truly believed he’d loved her. That just goes to show that you couldn’t trust your heart.

“Okay,” Vashti said softly. “When you’re ready to tell me, you will.”

Bryce sighed with relief. “Let’s talk about something else. Like how you managed to get on Sheriff Grisham’s good side and he voted in your favor? And don’t think I didn’t notice how he was looking at you.”

So she hadn’t imagined it. “I’m sure the only reason he cast his vote my way was because he has a teenage daughter who could benefit from the perks the resort was offering.”

“Well, I guess we can kiss the ten million goodbye,” Bryce said, taking another sip of her wine. “Even after giving that heartwarming speech welcoming you back to Catalina Cove, Mr. Lacroix still voted against those developers.”

“Did you think he would do otherwise? He might have changed in some ways but when it comes to Catalina Cove, it’s not in his makeup to change. Besides, if he had sided with me on the issue, it would have really given the townspeople something to gossip about.”

“I guess you’re right about that.”

Vashti released Bryce’s hand. “I’m going to change. And then we’re going to open another bottle of wine.” She smiled at her friend, her heart aching for the remnants of pain she saw in Bryce’s eyes from just the mention of Kaegan. She wasn’t sure what was going on between them but believed when Bryce was ready to tell her, she would.

* * *

“I CAN’T BELIEVE you let the old people in this town have their way to do whatever they want to do. It should be against the law.”

“Voting your conscience is not against the law, Jade.”

“It may not be against the law but it isn’t fair to the young people in this town. Don’t we get a voice, Dad?”

Jade had lit into him the moment he walked through the door. A door she’d opened the moment she’d heard his footsteps on the porch. He’d known from the look on her face that she was fired up. He had left the zoning board meeting to come straight home. News certainly traveled fast.

“First of all, I didn’t let them do anything. I’m not the only member of the board and everyone has the right to cast their vote as they see fit. There were more members against that tennis resort coming here than for it. And as far as your having a voice, no, you don’t have one yet. You’re not old enough to vote. Even if you were, your vote would not have counted. Only members of the board could vote.”

“Well, every member of the zoning board should be fired...except for you and Mr. Kaegan,” she said, following behind him as he headed for his bedroom to lock his gun, holster and badge in the safe and take a shower. “I heard the two of you were the only ones with the good sense to do the right thing.”

He thought she’d heard a lot and didn’t mind voicing her opinion on the matter. “The others felt they were doing the right thing as well. The right thing to preserve the integrity of this town,” he said. In all honesty, he thought the perks would have been good for the city, not to mention a boost to the economy with new jobs. That’s why he’d voted for it.

“That resort would have done a lot for this town and those eight people should not have voted against it. That’s why I love you so much, Dad. You’re the best. You’re your own man. You think for yourself. One day I intend to be the mayor of this town and when I do I’m going to bring as many resorts here as I can.”

Mayor? That was a new one on him. He hadn’t heard of that aspiration before. “Mayor?”

“Yes, mayor. And besides the resorts I plan to bring in a Walmart, a McDonald’s and Pizza Hut. It’s a shame we have to go to New Orleans for fast food.”

Before opening the door to his bedroom he looked over his shoulder to find her right there on his heels. “If I recall, you plan to return to Reno and go to the university there. Stats have shown most kids who go away to school rarely return to the town they grew up in.”

“Well, I’m coming back and I’m—”

“Going to be mayor and bring in Walmart, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut,” he said, interrupting her. “I got it. Now be a good kid and warm up my food while I’m in the shower.” He entered his room and closed the door.

Of course that didn’t stop her from continuing the conversation. The sound of her voice carried through the wooden door. “I really feel bad for the lady who wanted to sell that land. I heard she could have made ten million dollars off it.”

Sawyer reopened the door. “Who told you that?”

“Mitzi Perry’s mother.”

Sawyer had heard that as well and didn’t have to wonder how Ms. Perry got wind of it. The gossip train was at work. “Things don’t always work out the way we want them to, hon,” he said.

“I heard she was pretty.”

He lifted a brow. “Who?”

“The lady who can’t sell her land. I heard she also drives a real sporty car. A red convertible.”

He wondered where she’d heard that from and decided not to ask. But however she came about her information it was the truth. As far as he was concerned Vashti Alcindor was more than just pretty. She was gorgeous. If he wasn’t sure of it before he was definitely certain of it now. “I’m going to take a shower, Jade.”

“I was hoping to work at the resort one day, Dad. It was going to be my summer job. And I was going to take advantage of those free lessons and the spa and all the cute tennis players that would have come to town to stay there.”

She’d had him feeling a little sorry for her until she mentioned the cute tennis players. This was the first time she’d hinted at being interested in boys. Big boys. Tennis-playing boys. Older and conceited athletes who wouldn’t waste any time seducing an innocent sixteen-year-old. “Don’t forget to warm up my food,” he said, then closed the door again.

“That Mr. Lacroix thinks he owns this town. People always go along with what he wants. That’s going to change when I become mayor.” Her voice was coming in loud and clear through the door.

“I hear you,” he said, yelling loud enough to make sure she knew he had responded but not giving the impression he was agreeing with what she said, although she was partly right about some of the townspeople going along with whatever Reid Lacroix said.

Like tonight for instance. He didn’t know the man’s motive, but for Lacroix to officially welcome Ms. Alcindor to town in front of everyone assured that the people in town would welcome her as well. If anyone still had an issue about her before, they wouldn’t now.

All was quiet, which meant Jade had moved away from the door. Finally. Good. She’d been on a roll. Not that he thought it was over but for now she’d run out of steam. Tomorrow when she got home from school she would be refueled again after discussing it with her friends. And now she was thinking about returning to the cove after college in Nevada. Imagine that.

He knew not to count on it because his daughter was just in the moment. After college she would go wherever opportunities knocked. That would be the smart thing to do and he wasn’t raising a dummy. She wanted to be a doctor so he couldn’t see her coming back here working at the cove’s small hospital while alternating at the mayor gig. He smiled at the thought of that.

As he stepped into the shower beneath the spray of water he thought about Vashti Alcindor and what his daughter had said about her. Tonight he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her and more than once she’d caught him staring and stared back. If eyes could talk he wondered what theirs would have said.

Lathering his hair, he knew it was crazy. He was still attracted to the woman. How could he think of her in a sexual way when day after tomorrow he would be spending the afternoon in bed with Leesa. He’d never left her arms disappointed and doubted he would. But...