One Christmas Wish by Brenda Jackson
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
VELVETSATINfront of her TV with a glass of wine in one hand and the remote in the other. There had to be something worth watching other than romance movies, cop shows and sci-fi movies. She was in the mood for none of those. In her present frame of mind, she should just finish her wine and go on to bed. School had ended for the holidays and with nothing planned this week, she thought she might drive into New Orleans for some Christmas shopping. Shopping was always a girl’s best friend.
Anything was better than sitting around and letting her thoughts dwell on that town hall meeting last Thursday, when she’d seen Jaye for the first time in two years. Just a few days later his presence was already the talk of the town. That next day at school, all the single teachers had been whispering about how good-looking he was and what it would take to capture such a man’s eye. She had been tempted to tell them unless they were in for an affair that led nowhere, not to waste their time.
After that meeting, she couldn’t get home quick enough to call Ruthie to tell her that Jaye was not only in town but would be here for a while since he now owned the only bank in town.
Her best friend was just as shocked as she was. Ruthie even brought up the possibility that he had somehow found out her whereabouts and that was why he was in Catalina Cove. Velvet found that hard to believe. Jaye didn’t run after women. Besides, why now, after she’d been gone two years?
She put the remote on the table and went into the kitchen. She was about to pour another glass of wine when her doorbell sounded. Who in the world could that be? Maybe it was her neighbor, Delisa.
When she reached the door, she asked, “Who is it?”
“Jaye Colfax.”
Velvet’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest. What was Jaye doing here? How did he know where she lived? Drawing in a deep breath, she tried to calm her erratic heartbeat. She glanced down at herself and was glad she was decent. She hadn’t changed out of the slacks and top she’d worn to her dentist appointment that day. With slightly trembling hands she opened the door.
The porch light illuminated his features and she went still, taking in just how handsome he was. Simply gorgeous, from his head to his toes and every part in between.
“Jaye. What are you doing here?”
“May I come in, Vel, so we can talk?”
Hearing him say her nickname, which nobody in the cove used, gave her pause. Ruthie called her that all the time but hearing Jaye say it brought a lot of memories rushing through her mind...and her body.
“Vel?”
He’d said it again, making her realize she hadn’t answered him. She could easily say no, he couldn’t come in, and they had nothing to talk about. She had put distance between them two years ago for a reason. She had given up talking to him then, why should they talk now?
She could tell him just what she thought of him, but knew that wouldn’t be a smart move. He was now the new banker in town and agitation between them could call for awkward moments she’d rather not deal with.
If nothing else, they needed to talk about the best way to handle things since nobody in Catalina Cove, except for Sierra, knew about her past.
“Yes, please come in,” she said, stepping back to let him in.
When he crossed the threshold, her gaze roamed over him. He was six foot two, but he appeared taller than she remembered. Since he was in business mode, he was dressed in a tailor-made suit.
It was only when he spent time with her or hung out with his friends that he wore casual attire. Jeans never looked as good on any man and button-down shirts always emphasized his masculine build. Honestly, she preferred those times when he wore nothing at all. When he was as naked as the day he was born...
Regaining control of her senses, she closed the door behind him and repeated her question. “What are you doing here, Jaye?”
“I think we need to talk.”
Yes, he’d said that, and they had, and it had gotten them nowhere.“I was about to have another glass of wine, would you like one?”
“Yes, thanks.”
There was no need to make sure what she was drinking was what he’d want because she and Jaye always liked the same wine. In fact, they liked most of the same of everything—food, colors, places to visit, music, movies, political party. They’d been perfect together. Perfect for each other. Too bad he hadn’t seen or accepted that.
“Please have a seat. I’ll be right back.” She hurried off to the kitchen, holding her breath. It was only when she leaned against the counter that she exhaled. When she’d rented this house nearly two years ago, she’d never given thought that Jaye would ever walk through the door, stand in her foyer, sit on her sofa or share a glass of wine with her. She’d figured when she’d left Phoenix, she’d made a clean break. Obviously not.
But then, she couldn’t place the blame solely at Jaye’s feet. He had been up-front with her from the beginning. He wasn’t the marrying kind. All there would be between them was companionship and sex, sex and more sex. He’d also made it clear when she’d pushed for exclusivity that although they wouldn’t date others, it was still just an affair.
He didn’t love her and could never love her. She thought that she could be content with their arrangement. Had convinced herself she could settle. But then as time passed, she knew she had deserved more. She’d also known she would never get that more from Jaye. The damage his mother had caused to his father’s heart was something Jaye didn’t just blame his mother for but all women. He would never give his heart to one the way Jack Colfax Sr. had.
Calming her shaking fingers, she reached into the cabinet to retrieve another wineglass and filled it halfway. That’s usually all he ever wanted. They would joke about whether the glass was half-full or half-empty all the time.
After topping off hers, she left the kitchen carrying both glasses to find him standing in the middle of her living room, glancing around.
He looked up when she entered the room. “This is a nice place, Vel.”
“Thanks,” she said, handing him the wineglass. Their hands touched and she felt it and knew he had as well. Okay, so they’d just proved that sexual chemistry was still alive and well between them. Big deal.
She sat and he did as well. He took a sip, and as she watched him, she thought what she always thought, he looked sexy doing it. The way his lips caressed the rim of the glass and how he would take slow, seductive sips...
She cleared her throat. “So why are you here?” she asked for the third time.
Jaye lowered his glass. “It was a rather startling moment seeing you the other night.”
She shrugged. “You mean you didn’t deliberately buy that bank when you discovered this is where I was living?” she asked coolly.
He took another sip of wine before saying, “Is that what you believe I did?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “No,” she said honestly. “It’s not in your makeup to care that much for any woman to put out that much effort. I know you being here was just a coincidence neither of us counted on. I’m sure you were hoping never to see me again.”
His brows pinched with irritation. “Have you forgotten that you left me and not the other way around? And without letting me know you were leaving and where you were going.”
“You sound pissed. Why? I gave you your freedom.”
“I don’t recall asking for it.”
No, he hadn’t. He would have been perfectly fine letting things continue as they were. It never dawned on him that perhaps she wanted more. “I did what I felt I had to do, Jaye.”
He didn’t say anything, didn’t even bother to ask her what she meant. She knew that he knew.
He finished another sip of wine and said, “How do you think we should handle things, Vel? To get the bank up and running the way I want, I’ll be living in town for about six to eight months. I don’t want any awkward moments between us. Any suggestions?”
“Yes, you could stop calling me Vel. Everybody in town calls me Velvet. If they hear you call me that then they’ll know we had a past.”
“And you’d rather they didn’t know that?” he asked.
She nodded. “There’s no reason for anyone here to know. What was between us is in the past and it should stay there.”
“Alright. Anything else?”
She drew in a deep breath. “Yes. Nobody in town knows who I am.”
She saw the bemused look on his face, and then when he realized what she meant, he smiled. “In other words, nobody in Catalina Cove knows you’re the Spencer’s restaurant heir.”
“No, they don’t know.”
“Even though there’s a Spencer’s in town? One of the few fast-food places I heard they’ve allowed to open here?”
Spencer’s was a popular restaurant that was known for their hamburgers, french fries and milkshakes. A few years ago, several other items were added to the menu, including pizza. From what Velvet had heard, Reid Lacroix had been against any fast-food chains opening in the cove. However, once his granddaughters made it known that Spencer’s was their favorite eating place and the closest one was in New Orleans, he had made sure that one opened up in the cove. The cove had gotten a McDonald’s for that same reason.
“Only Reid Lacroix and my friend Sierra Crane know. Both are sworn to secrecy. No one has made the connection and there’s no reason they should since I’m not involved in the business side of the corporation. As you know, I have very capable people running things back in Seattle on my behalf.”
“Yes, you do,” he said. “I hear you’re about to expand into Canada and the UK.”
“Yes, that’s what I’m told.”
Her parents had always known she hadn’t wanted to be involved in the family business and that being a teacher was her dream. They hadn’t been overjoyed but had let her be. Their deaths eight years ago had changed things. While coming home one night from a party, their vehicle had been carjacked and both had been murdered in the process. It had been a senseless killing and had taken away the two people she’d cared about most.
“I like teaching.”
“And you’re good at it.”
“Thanks. Well, that about covers everything.”
“Not quite. There’s something you need to know.”
Velvet lifted a brow. “What?”
“Where I’ll be staying.”
She tilted her head and looked at him. “Why would it concern me where you’d be staying?”
“Because I’m renting the house right next door. I understand your neighbor Delisa Mills leaves town for extended trips. The Realtor that I hired was able to find me a place with only a six-month lease. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was next to you. I could try to find another place if it’s going to bother you with me being so close.”
Velvet tried to keep her features neutral but deep inside she was fuming. For two years she had moved on with her life, trying to get herself free of Jaye, and now, out of the clear blue sky, he not only popped up in Catalina Cove, but he was moving next door to her. What on earth did she do to deserve this?
“Vel?”
She glared at him. “No, Jaye, your living next door will mean nothing to me.”
He smiled...actually smiled. Did that mean it meant nothing to him, too? He thought it would be okay if he moved in next door and began parading women in and out of his house when she was so close by? There was no doubt in her mind that since their breakup he had gone back to his playboy ways. He’d certainly captured a lot of interest the other night.
“I think we’ve covered everything, Jaye,” she said, taking his wineglass from him—although there was still wine in it—and then turning to head for the door.
“Yes, I guess we have.” When they reached the door, he said, “I’ll be staying at that bed-and-breakfast in town, Shelby by the Sea, until the first of the year. Then I’ll be moving next door.”
“Okay. Good night, Jaye.”
“Good night, Vel.”
“Remember, from now on, I’m Velvet.”
“I’ll remember.”
And then he was gone.
VAUGHNSTORMEDINSIDEhis home, breathing fire and his body quivering with rage. He could appreciate Sierra’s need to not depend on anyone, but didn’t she realize that things between them were different?
She’d even ignored the fact he’d said he loved her—or she had been too mad to hear it. All she had to do was trust him enough to listen to what he had to tell her. Then she would have appreciated his involvement. Now she would be going into that meeting with a manipulative ex-husband, who was hell-bent on revenge, and a clueless judge. His woman didn’t stand a chance. And whether she accepted it or not, she was his woman. The woman he loved, the one he would marry one day.
And right now, she thought she had every reason to hate his guts. Didn’t she understand that when a man loved a woman his natural instinct was to protect her? Granted, she hadn’t known he loved her then, but she knew it now and she still hadn’t gotten it. She still felt he had stuck his nose where it didn’t belong. The hell he had. His nose belonged anywhere that involved her.
Going into the kitchen, he grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and then went to sit outside on the patio. He’d put automatic timers on the Christmas tree inside his home and the one on the dock. The tree on the dock was taller and had a hell of a lot more lights. He believed those kids put over a thousand lights and ornaments on that tree, but he had to admit it was beautiful. Even now he saw how the lights reflected off the water. It looked totally beautiful and, not surprisingly, there’d been a steady string of boaters cruising by to see it. Some were even taking pictures.
He took a sip of beer as his mind shifted back to Sierra. Not that she had ever left it. His anger escalated when he thought of the long hours Deke had worked in such a short time frame to gather all that information on Nathan Flowers.
And damn it, she had thrown it back in his face and said she didn’t want to see him again. Hell, the way he was feeling, he didn’t want to see her either. Why couldn’t she see that she could be the strong, independent woman she was, yet accept there was nothing wrong for someone to want to have your back, protect you from all sides and be ready to kick ass on your behalf if necessary?
Hell, she didn’t see that and not doing so was her loss. Maybe one day she would realize he hadn’t wanted to hurt her but help her. Too late now. He was done. When she had insisted that he leave and never contact her again, that had been it. He didn’t need this kind of BS in his life from anyone.
JAYEENTEREDHISroom at Shelby by the Sea, noticing that it was a very nice place with all the comforts of home. Jerking off his tie and removing his suit jacket, he tossed both on the bed before heading to the window. He had requested an ocean view, and that’s just what he’d gotten. Even at night he could see the lights of several boats, which meant some people were doing night fishing.
He drew in a deep breath as he recounted his conversation with Velvet. He had been prepared to be totally honest with her and tell her the reason he was here—to claim her love.
However, something she’d said had stopped him from being forthright. She had jested about him deliberately buying the bank when he’d discovered this was where she was living. Then she admitted she knew he hadn’t done such a thing because it wasn’t in his makeup to care that much for any woman. He’d decided at that moment to prove how wrong she was, and that it was in his makeup to care that much.
When he felt the time was right, he would let her know how miserable he’d been the last two years and how it had taken her leaving for him to realize how much he cared for her. He loved her. He would eventually tell her he’d hired a private investigator to find her. She would also discover that Larson Barrows hadn’t really been ready to retire, it had taken Jaye making an offer that had been so sweet the man couldn’t have refused...or he would have been a fool to do so. The same thing with the house next door to hers. He had made it worth Delisa Mills’s while, financially, to stay out of the country at least six to eight more months.
Bottom line, Jaye had done what he’d felt was needed to get back the woman he loved. The woman he had lost by his own stupidity. And in the end, she would see that he intended to do what he should have done when he’d first met her, and that was to court her properly.
He loved her and he intended to prove it to her, but on her time, not his. If it took longer than six months, he was fine with that. He’d discovered that Catalina Cove, Louisiana, wasn’t so bad. In fact, it was a real nice town.
Jaye was determined that when he left the cove, he would be leaving with Velvet—as his wife.