Sweet Love at Bayside Read online

  She inhaled a shaky breath. “I better not. It’s been a crazy day, and I’ve got a complicated evening.”

  Complicated? He had a handful of questions about that, but before he could suggest they go somewhere to talk, she said, “Sorry, but I’d better go. I have a lot to do tonight.”

  “I hope it’s nothing too difficult.” Too difficult? That was the best he could come up with? He was really out of practice. It had been a long time since he’d had to try to pick up a woman.

  She smiled. “Actually, I don’t know what it is yet.”

  He wondered if she was on the cusp of a breakup. That would explain her blowing him off. “You have my number. If things get rough, use it.”

  “Thanks, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.” She cocked her head to the side with a thoughtful expression. “You don’t even know me. What if I’m a psycho?”

  She was too cute. “If you were a psycho, you would have taken my head off when I sprayed you. Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”

  “I’m parked just over the dune. You don’t need to.”

  “I’d like to.”

  Her eyes shifted over his shoulder toward the water. “But your Jet Ski…”

  “It says ‘Bayside Resort’ on the side. No one’s going to be stupid enough to steal it.” He didn’t care if they did. She intrigued him more than that machine ever had.

  “You’re persistent.” A smile lifted her lips as he guided her up the sandy path with a hand on the small of her back.

  “And you’re beautiful.”

  “Does that usually work for—”

  He stopped walking and drew her against him. The reins on his aggression were apparently short-lived. She sucked in a sharp breath, and when their eyes met, she let it out with a dreamy sigh. It was the sexiest sound he’d ever heard.

  “You tell me, Desiree. Does it work for me?”

  The unmistakable look of lust rose in her eyes. She licked her full, pink lips, and he wondered how they’d feel pressed against his or searing a path down the center of his body.

  “The verdict is still out,” she said softly, but her unstoppable smile, and the fact that she was no longer shivering, told him all he needed to know.

  Each time their sides brushed as they crossed the parking lot, she stole a quick glance. He had the urge to tell her she could brush against him, touch him, taste him all she wanted, but that underlying sweetness held him back.

  “If you own Bayside Resort, then you probably have pretty women at your beck and call. Why go to the trouble of leaping off your Jet Ski to meet me?” She withdrew a single key with a tiny gold heart key chain from a pocket in her dress and unlocked the door of her MINI Cooper.

  “You were gawking at me.” He stepped closer, hoping to see that hungry look again. “It would have been rude of me not to.”

  A sexy smile lifted her lips.

  “We’ll have to take my car when we go out. There’s no way I’ll fit in this one.”

  A melodic laugh fell from her lips. “When we go out?”

  “That’s right.” Holding her gaze, he ran his hands up her arms, from wrist to shoulder. Her skin was soft and cool, but it heated up quickly beneath his touch. “Warming up?”

  “Mm-hm. You’re very forward.”

  “Most people call me ‘aggressive,’ but I like your word better. I’d like to get to know you, Desiree. I hope I haven’t scared you off.” His hands dropped to her waist. She didn’t move away, her body didn’t tense up, and she held his steady gaze. Game on? He still wasn’t sure.

  “Like I said.” Her eyes narrowed in speculation. “Forward.”

  “You know what they say. If you’re not moving forward, you’re going in the wrong direction.”

  “So, you’re pretty sure getting women wet is the way to go?”

  Maybe she wasn’t as innocent as she seemed.

  He drew her soft body against him, loving the way her breathing hitched. “Absolutely, and I’m pretty sure when we go out, you’ll agree.”

  Her eyes widened with surprise. She was sending so many mixed messages he couldn’t tell if she was toying with him or nervous. Or was she testing the waters? Dipping her toes in and pulling away when it got too hot? He wanted to take her in his arms and carry her to the volcanic side. But he feared he’d already pushed too hard, and went for a save.

  “Get your mind out of the gutter, sweetheart.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. Her skin was soft as silk, and she smelled like the promise of a warm summer’s night. She was watching him with that curious, lustful gaze again, and he brushed his thumb over her jaw. “I’m really sorry for soaking you with my Jet Ski, but I’m not sorry we met.”

  Chapter Two

  DRENCHED AND TURNED on was not how Desiree imagined greeting her mother. But the lingering hum inside her from meeting Rick was a lot better than the awful feelings she’d been experiencing earlier. As she parked in front of the tall Victorian overlooking Cape Cod Bay, an army of emotions trampled through her, turning all that heat into discomfort. For decades, her grandparents had used the house and four cottages as a bed-and-breakfast called Summer House Inn. But now, the once-beautiful gardens were overgrown and wild. Weeds covered the patio near the cottages, giving the property a forgotten feel. Her mother had inherited the estate when they’d lost their grandmother, and it appeared she’d given the property about as much attention as she’d given Desiree.

  She stepped from the car as the front door of the house swung open, and her mother stepped out onto the wide front porch carrying two big suitcases. Desiree froze. Lizza’s hair was as wild and thick as a jungle, tumbling over her shoulders in natural waves, dozens of shades darker than Desiree’s blond, but not as black as Violet’s crow-colored hair. Her orange maxi dress shifted around her legs in the cool evening breeze, giving her a youthful appearance as she set the luggage down.

  Orange. My favorite color. Did you remember, or is it a coincidence?

  Apparently oblivious to her daughter standing in the driveway, Lizza walked to the far side of the porch and tipped her head up toward the sky, eyes closed. Desiree had seen her do that many times. She remembered mimicking the action when she was younger, hoping to feel whatever it was that brought a smile to her mother’s face when she did it. But Desiree wasn’t Lizza, and she’d never felt like anything but a little girl reaching for the impossible—a shred of her mother to hang on to.

  As Desiree ascended the steps, her mother turned. Her Julia Roberts smile brought a rush of conflicting emotions.

  “Desi,” Lizza said. “Goodness. You were anxious to take a swim, weren’t you?”

  Not knowing how to explain why she was soaked, she said nothing at all.

  After a brief, uncomfortable hug, Desiree assessed her mother’s sparkling eyes and the healthy glow of her skin, which she hoped were positive signs.

  “You look good. What’s going on? Are you sick?”

  “Oh my gosh. Am I ever. Thank goodness you came.” Lizza’s eyes trailed over Desiree’s face. “You’re troubled.”

  Seriously? “You sent me an email saying I needed to be here to prolong your life. Of course I’m troubled.”

  A motorcycle roared up the driveway and parked beside Desiree’s car. A tall woman clad in all black climbed from the bike.

  “Violet is here.” Her mother picked up her suitcases and traipsed down the steps. “Come now, Desi. There’s no time to waste.”

  Violet drives a motorcycle?

  Violet took off her helmet and shook out her long black hair, eyeing Desiree with a curious expression as she embraced Lizza.

  “Hey, Des. I came as quickly as I could. You okay? Why are you all wet?” She set her helmet on the bike and shrugged off her leather jacket, revealing colorful tattoos from her right shoulder to her wrist. She’d gotten more since their grandmother’s funeral.

  “Don’t ask, and I’m as okay as you might expect me to be.” They shared an awkward hug. “I tried to email you.” She didn’t kno
w why she hadn’t expected Violet to come. She was actually close to their mother.

  “I’ve been traveling,” Vi said, as if traveling were a universal excuse for being unresponsive. “Lizza said you needed me to be here this summer. Something about prolonging your life? Are you sick?”

  “Not my life.” Desiree waved toward their mother. “Her life.”

  “My two beautiful girls together again. I’m the happiest woman on the planet right now.” Lizza hugged herself, inhaling deeply and tipping her face up toward the sky as she’d done earlier. “This is so right. So perfect. Can’t you feel it? This is what we needed.”

  “If you mean feeling confused, I’m right there with you.” Violet’s lips puckered with annoyance. “Why are we here, Lizza?”

  A cab pulled into the driveway, and their mother clapped her hands together. “Right on time.”

  “On time for what? Are we going somewhere?” Desiree couldn’t hide the disbelief in her voice.

  “Not us, honey. I’m going to an ashram for the summer.” Lizza carried her bags to the cab, and the driver hoisted them into the trunk. “I tried to stay to watch over the house, but staying in one place has nearly killed me. It’s zapped me of all my creativity. I can’t sleep. I can’t think. I can’t even sit still long enough to do yoga. I need this. I need to center myself, to rejuvenate my soul.”

  “Wait. What?” Violet crossed her arms, narrowing her catlike green eyes, the only physical trait she and her sister shared. “What was all that bull about prolonging Desiree’s life?”

  Their mother grabbed one of each of their hands. There was no tension in her grip. Her expression was happy and relaxed, stoking the anger simmering in Desiree’s stomach.

  “Lizza,” Desiree said in the calmest voice she could muster. “You’re not sick? You’re…bored? You tricked us into coming here to run your gallery? Why do you even have a gallery if you hate being here?”

  “Oh, Desi. Negative energy is so unhealthy. This is a blessing, the two of you together again. There is no doubt that knowing you’re together will prolong my life and yours. And, Vi, baby,” Lizza said. “You’re my solid girl. Desi needs you like the grass needs water.”

  A flash of jealousy tore through Desiree at the warm endearment her sister received, but her anger pushed it aside. “No, I don’t. Do whatever you want, Vi. I’m going back to Virginia.”

  “Great. My life is going back to Bali.” Violet strutted over to her motorcycle.

  Lizza pressed both hands over her heart. “No, girls. Please, don’t be selfish. You can’t leave. Not unless you want to lose your grandmother’s house.”

  “What?” they said in unison.

  “The mortgage has to be paid. I have enough pieces in my gallery and personal exploration shop to sell to cover the expenses well into the winter, but the bulk of the sales happen over the summer. If neither of you is here to run the gallery and shop, the mortgage will default and we’ll lose the estate.”

  Personal exploration shop? This was just like their mother, expecting them to drop everything and clean up her mess. Wasn’t that exactly what she’d done to Desiree’s father when she’d decided she didn’t want to raise her?

  Desiree held up her hands. “Wait. Grandma’s house has been paid off forever. That’s how she was able to afford to shut down the inn after Grandpa died.”

  “It was,” Lizza said. “But I had this idea to reopen the inn and make it into a retreat. A mini ashram with yoga and massage, and I needed money for renovations.”

  “Wait a second.” Desiree’s voice rose. “You can’t strap us with a mortgage for your whimsical idea. We didn’t ask for any of this.”

  Lizza’s smile never faltered, which angered Desiree even more.

  “You’re absolutely right, Desi. You didn’t ask for it. But the universe heard you anyway. You need this.”

  “I don’t know what universe you live in, but clearly it’s been smoking something funny,” Desiree said. “Not only do I not need this, but I don’t want it.”

  Violet stalked over to their mother, glaring at her in a way that sent a shiver down Desiree’s spine.

  “Lizza, give the money back to the bank.” Violet’s voice was dead calm, teetering on threatening.

  Lizza wrinkled her nose. “I would if I had it, but the renovations are paid for. The cash is almost gone. But word of mouth has been great for the gallery. Talk it up every chance you get.”

  “Talk it up? How could you even think this was an option?” Desiree snapped. “I put my life on hold because you said my being here would prolong yours. As if you were dying.”

  “I was dying, and because you and Vi are here, I already feel better, healthier, freer.” Lizza gave Desiree a hug despite her daughter’s rigid stance.

  “If being here made you feel like you were dying, then why did you borrow money to open an inn? You can’t even stay in one place for more than a few months.” Desiree’s words came out harsh, but she was unable to temper them.

  “The heart wants what it wants. I can’t explain it. Things change,” Lizza said with an infuriating smile.

  Like your feelings for your daughter? The words were right there, hanging off the tip of her tongue.

  Lizza stepped toward Violet, but Violet backed out of reach.

  “Oh, girls. Cosmos brought you together. He always knows exactly who needs to meet and when. We needed this. All of us. I love you, and more importantly”—she opened the cab door and climbed inside—“I believe in you!”

  Before either of them could say a word, the cab drove away.

  “What the frick?” Violet yelled.

  “Do you have to drop the F-bomb?”

  Violet gave her a have-you-lost-your-mind look. “That is not the F-bomb, and it’s about as careful as I intend to be, so get used to it.”

  Desiree paced, reeling as her life spun out of control. “She’s obviously lost her mind. Cosmos?”

  “If ever there was a time to say frick it’s now. Frick, frick, frick!”

  Desiree rolled her eyes. “Did that help? Because we’re still in the same mess we were in before you said it.”

  “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m going to find a guy and a bottle of tequila, and have my way with both until this pissed-off feeling goes away.”

  Desiree flung her car door open and grabbed her phone. “You’re staying? Taking over her shops to pay the mortgage? Did you have any idea this was what she was up to?”

  “I haven’t seen her since the funeral, and I had no idea she was cooking up any of this. But unless you have an extra few thousand bucks hanging around, I don’t see how we can leave.” Violet put on her leather jacket. “Will you be here when I get back?”

  Desiree looked down at her soaking-wet clothes, wishing she’d taken Rick up on his offer to have a drink, because now she was too angry to see straight. She needed a hot bath and dry clothes. “I guess so. But you can’t go out drinking and drive that death machine afterward.”

  Violet swung her leg over the bike. “I’m going to buy a bottle of tequila, pick up a guy, and drive home before I have my way with either. Okay, Mom?”

  “Whatever.” Violet was never going to change.

  Violet’s lips tipped up. “How about you get cleaned up and we take your car and go together? A little sisterly bonding. We’ve never gotten drunk or picked up guys together.”

  “There are hundreds of things we’ve never done together, and those are the ones you want to conquer? We are so different. Thanks, but I don’t want to sleep with a stranger or drink until I pass out.” Desiree pulled up her father’s contact information on her phone. He was an international banker, and if anyone knew how to get out of this mess without losing their grandmother’s house, it would be him.

  “I can see you still haven’t lightened up.” Violet revved her engine. “I suppose you’ll call Daddy and ask him what to do?”

  Desiree lowered her phone, a wave of guilt and annoyance washing over her. While
Desiree had seen her mother for only a few days every six months, Violet’s father had taken off the day he’d found out Lizza was pregnant, and he’d never looked back. Vi had forever been spiteful that Desiree had a father to lean on, probably in much the same way Desiree felt about Vi having Lizza.

  Pushing that uncomfortable thought away, she said, “He might be able to help figure out a way to get us out of this without losing Grandma’s property. Obviously Lizza can’t be counted on. Maybe we can say she’s unstable and get the loan revoked.”

  “She’s already spent the money,” Violet pointed out. “Face it. We’re stuck. But if you want to go back to your wonderful life in Virginia, I’ll stay and do it on my own. I don’t want to lose the family house because she made a stupid decision.” She tugged on her helmet, revved her engine, and drove away.

  Desiree groaned, clutching her phone and wishing she could throw it. But that would leave her in an even worse position. As she lugged her bags into the house, she wished she could be as bold as Violet for just one night. Maybe then she would have the guts to text that hunky Jet Skier.

  Chapter Three

  THE SUN BEAT down on Rick’s shoulders as he neared the end of his five-mile run with his brother, Drake, and their business partner and friend Dean Masters early Tuesday morning. This was his favorite part of the day, catching up with the guys before real life took over and they had to deal with issues at the resort and get busy with renovations to the new recreation center. And today he’d needed the run more than ever. He hadn’t heard from Desiree, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her. She’d intrigued him with her conflicting cautious nature and lustful eyes. He wanted to peel back those careful layers and reveal all the secret seductive qualities she’d tried so hard to contain last night.

  The run was good, but it didn’t help. She was still front and center in his mind, and he was talking up a storm trying to distract himself.

  “I’m catching that dog today if it kills me.” Rick had been after a scruffy dog that had found its way into the pool several times over the past few weeks. It had outrun him twice already, disappearing between the shrubs at the edge of the property.