Meant to Be (30 page)

Joe’s fists clenched and he felt a vein throb in his neck. “You think I’m hiding?”

She turned, one foot on the step. “Aren’t you? What are you afraid of, Joe?”

“Try asking yourself that question. All I ever hear is what your grandparents wanted for you. Or what Lucas wants. What about what you want?” He crossed the distance between them. “What do you want, Beth? Do you want to be a lawyer? Because everything you’ve told me says you don’t.”

“It doesn’t matter what I want.”

“God, are you stubborn,” he said, running a hand through his hair, then putting several feet between them to keep from shaking some sense into her. “Answer the question, damn it. What do you want?”

She scrubbed her hands over her face, then shoved them back in her hair. “I want…I just…”

“Say it.”

Beth closed her eyes and another tear followed the first. “I want to go back to the way things were before I got here. Before I drove onto that ferry and found you with those blue eyes and that damn dimple. Before I fell in love with
this island and the people on it.” Dropping her hands to her sides, her shoulders dropped. “
All
of the people on it.”

The air left his lungs, and a single thought roared through his mind.

She loves me.

“What are we going to do?”

“Nothing,” she said, and walked into the house.

Beth gave herself an hour to pull it together before calling Lucas. He needed to know what was going on. If he was called into the HR office to discuss her actions, he should have some idea what they were talking about.

“Hey there,” Lucas said, sounding groggy but happy to hear from her. “How are things down there?”

Ignoring his question, she asked, “Did I wake you? I’m sorry, I should let you sleep.”

“No, it’s fine. I just fell asleep watching SportsCenter.” He yawned. “I’m glad you called. Sorry I missed your calls over the weekend.”

“That’s okay,” she said, searching for some reserve of courage. “I need to talk to you about something.” Her chest grew tight.

“What is it? Patty trying to talk you into having the wedding down there?” Lucas gave a soft laugh and Beth curled into herself on the bed.

“No. We haven’t talked about the wedding.” Like ripping off a Band-Aid, she thought. “It’s about Cassandra Wheeler.”

“Is she still down there? I’d have expected Joe to run her off by now.”

“She’s here. We saw her at dinner tonight.”

“We? You and the family?”

“No,” she admitted, squeezing her eyes tight. “Joe and I. Anyway, she knows.”

Lucas sounded more alert. “Knows what?”

“That I work for the firm and I helped gather information for the Merchants Society. Information they could use to keep Wheeler from getting the island.”

“I told you not to get involved. What were you thinking?”

She was thinking she wanted to help Joe protect the island that meant so much to him. And now to her. But she couldn’t tell Lucas that.

“I guess I wasn’t thinking. In case this becomes an issue before I get back, I wanted you to know.” Fighting the tears, she added, “I’m sorry.”

“Let’s think about this,” he said, and she could tell he’d started pacing. Lucas always paced while trying to solve a problem. “Tell me specifically how you helped.”

Beth swiped a wayward tear before it fell off her chin. “I put together a list of merchants with their contact information. Gathered data on the local economy and tourism numbers, then used those to create future predictions.”

“Did you find any legal means for the Merchants to hold off Wheeler?”

“I couldn’t do that without a law library. I don’t know how long it’s been since you were here, but the Anchor library isn’t exactly overflowing with law books.”

“Then you’re fine. You put together information anyone could have acquired on the Internet. No legal research. No laws cited or precedents determined. Can they even prove you did it?”

No wonder Lucas had such a high acquittal rating. “I didn’t sign my name to anything, but if someone asks me I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t do it.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Lucas said, in full defense mode. “Cassandra Wheeler can try pulling whatever strings she wants, but there are no grounds to terminate you based on what you’ve told me. Is there anything you’re not telling me?”

Beth held her breath.

I’m in love with your brother.

“No.”

“Good.” Lucas exhaled. “If they try anything, we’ll handle it. Together. Okay?”

The guilt nearly ripped her apart. “Okay.”

“Are you crying? Hon, don’t cry. Everything will work out. You made a mistake, but nothing we can’t fix.”

Her whole life felt like something she couldn’t fix. “I’m fine. Really. But I’m tired, so I think I’m going to bed.” Sliding to her side and curling a pillow against her stomach, she said, “I’ll call you tomorrow night.”

“We might be at the office late. The evidentiary hearing is Friday. But I’ll keep my cell on me.” Silence filled the line for several seconds. “Try not to worry about this, Elizabeth. Things will look better in the morning.”

“I know. Night.”

“Love you,” Lucas said, delivering the fatal blow.

She couldn’t say it back. “Night,” she said, ending the call and turning to cry into her pillow.

Cassandra had been transferred twice by the time she reached Lucas Dempsey’s office, at which point a woman informed her he wasn’t available. After ordering the secretary to make him available, she sat on hold for several more minutes before he picked up.

“This is Lucas Dempsey,” he said, sounding as irritated as she felt.

“Hello, Lucas. This is Cassandra Wheeler.” She’d been writing the script for this call since watching that curly-haired bitch walk out of the restaurant with Joe.

Her Joe.

“What do you want, Cassie? I was in an important meeting.”

“I have some information for you regarding your fiancée’s activities on Anchor Island.”

“I know about my fiancée’s activities. She told me last night. Was there something else you wanted to discuss?”

Cassandra hesitated. She’d never expected the hussy to confess on her own. “She told you last night?”

“Yes,” he said.

“I must admit,” she said, “you’re taking this better than most men would.”

“I’m not most men. Now, if we’re finished here…”

Cassandra snorted. “I don’t care how evolved you consider yourself, Lucas, but finding out your fiancée is having an affair with your brother would elicit more than this placid response from most of the men I know.”

Stunned silence crackled over the line and Cassandra smiled. So, little Beth hadn’t confessed after all.

“What did you say?”

“I guess she didn’t tell you everything.” Pinning the phone between her ear and shoulder, Cassie folded a pair of black slacks, then dropped them in the suitcase. “Your fiancée isn’t as innocent as she looks. Though I would expect better from Joe. He is your brother.”

Lucas’s voice carried a growl. “Why should I believe you? You’ve had it out for my brother since the day he cut you off. I’m not going to be part of your petty plan for revenge.”

“He didn’t cut me off,” she argued. “I wasn’t about to live on this speck of an island for the rest of my life. And if he’d really loved me, he never would have chosen this hellhole over me.”

“I think your motives are clear. This conversation is over.”

“They’re making a fool of you, and everyone on this island can see it. If you don’t believe me, come down here and see for yourself. But when you lose your fiancée, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

With that parting shot, Cassandra ended the call, zipped her suitcase, and headed for home. The sooner she got off this filthy patch of sand, the better.

To Beth’s relief, Joe was booked solid for the next two days, which meant she didn’t have to see him. She needed the time to think. When she woke Tuesday morning to the
most intense sinus headache she’d ever experienced, courtesy of sobbing herself to sleep, Beth remembered Lola’s words.

Ain’t a soul alive can worry about anything when they’re staring into the sweet face of a child.

Thankfully, Helga was happy for the help. The babies were a soothing distraction and made Beth smile when she thought she’d never smile again. And then a wayward thought would creep in. Thoughts of her and Lucas having children. Eyes closed, she attempted to conjure the image of Lucas swaying back and forth with a child in his arms.

The image never came. Instead, the memory of Joe gently bouncing baby Cecelia played on a loop like a movie reel she was being forced to watch over and over. The harder she tried to slide Lucas into the role of father, the brighter Joe smiled, his eyes pulling her into the fantasy.

How had she let this happen? This was supposed to be a relaxing two-week vacation with her fiancé. Time to get to know his family and win their approval. She was never supposed to question whether Lucas should even be her fiancé. Falling in love with his brother was definitely not in the plan.

And she was in love with him. No point in denying her feelings now. Especially since she’d admitted as much to Joe.

Such a stupid thing to do. And the jerk couldn’t even call her crazy or tell her he didn’t feel the same.
What are we going to do?
What did he think they were going to do? Hop on the boat and ride off into the sunset? Follow their hearts and leave others to deal with the hurt and betrayal?

She couldn’t do that. Deep down, she knew Joe couldn’t either. But after two days of thinking through all the possible solutions, Beth was no closer to an answer than she’d been before.

“It’s about time you got here,” Lola said, rushing out to meet Beth in the art shop parking lot.

“I didn’t know I was punching a clock.” Lola tugged Beth toward the porch. “Why are we in such a hurry?”

“I’ve got something to show you.” For a woman twice Beth’s age, Lola moved with remarkable speed. “He’s been here less than an hour and I’ve already run out of things to say.”

“Who’s been here?” Before Lola could answer, the light went on. “Oh my gosh. Marcus is here?” Beth picked up the pace. “Why didn’t you call me?”

“I called Miss Patty and she said you left over a half hour ago. What did you do, take the long way around?” She’d never heard Lola so flustered. It was kind of cute.

“I stopped for coffee and took my time. I am on vacation, you know.” Beth pulled the door open. “Not that anyone on this island seems to realize that.”

The store was littered with tourists, same as the coffee shop had been. Not an overwhelming crowd. She hoped numbers would be better after Memorial Day. Not that she’d be there to see them.

To her surprise, Will stood behind the register, ringing up a customer. “What’s Will doing here?”

“She helps out once the season gets going.”

“But I thought she worked at O’Hagan’s? And Hava Java?”

Lola maneuvered them both through the shoppers, headed for the pottery classroom at the back. “Hard to
make a living on this island if you don’t own one of the businesses. Far as I know, Will works for everyone at some point or another.”

Talk about a Jack of all trades. “Why does she live here if it’s so hard to make a living?”