Moonlight and Margaritas (22 page)

Taken aback, Elena watched her daughter exit through the open doorway of the office and out in to the work area of her shop.  Cassie said goodbye to Carmen at the front counter and then the chimes of the front door rang as she left. 

Elena sat for a moment, dumbfounded. 

Since when had her daughter become a self-proclaimed expert on relationships?  Cassie had no idea how complicated things could be.  She'd never seriously dated anyone.  She didn't know what it was like to invite someone to share a life that was already full of family and work. 

Take her shop, for instance.  Elena shifted her gaze to the blooms in a variety of shapes and colors that filled the refrigerated cases in the work area.  The refrigerators alone had set her back a chunk of money.  The rent.  The employees.  Everything.  She'd built her dream and was finally to the point of realizing some good profits.  There was no way she could have achieved what she had if she'd been focused on a man.

For all of her brilliance, her daughter didn't know a lot about life.  Businesses like hers achieved success because the owners made them a priority.  Cassie was a priority, too.  There wasn't time for much else.  She certainly didn't need a man to complicate things, no matter how
hot
he was.

From Cassie's romantic perspective, maybe she had messed things up.  But from her point of view, she'd made the logical, smart decision leaving Joe behind in Mexico.  He was part of the vacation package.  Not part of everyday life. 

That was that.  The sooner she absorbed that into her brain, the sooner she'd be able to put her longings in the past where they belonged.

After a long day of mixing and matching lilies, roses and gypsophila to get the perfect designs for the Kapinski wedding, Elena pulled into her drive.  She dragged her tired body out of the car and turned toward her 1920s European-style cottage with a pitched roof and large picture windows.  If she lived in a storybook, Hansel and Gretel could have been her neighbors.  

Much-welcomed solace embraced her as she followed the brick pavers into the woodland gardens that surrounded her haven.  Cypress trees and creeping bright red bougainvillea secluded her from the rest of the world.  Her home was so much more than a place to shelter from the elements.

However, work wasn't what had drained her.  If anything, it had been her savior during the past week.  She absolutely loved spending each day surrounded by the fragrance and beauty of her flowers. 

It was Joe.

All day long, every day since she'd come home, thoughts of Joe had haunted her.  Any time she came across a red flower, she thought of Joe.  A vase?  A wineglass?  Everything reminded her of him.  She'd looked at his note so many times his phone number had been etched into her brain.  She knew it was because their time together had been romanticized by their exotic surroundings and carefree moments, but it needed to stop.  Battling memories of him flat out exhausted her.

She skipped dinner and headed straight for her antique tub.  After soaking in a long, hot bath, Elena shrugged into her new favorite nightshirt.  The soft cotton had been laundered, so it no longer carried Joe's scent, but slipping it around her made her feel better for the moment. 

Wearing his shirt obviously only made matters worse, but she couldn't fight it any longer tonight.  She needed the comfort of his shirt snuggled next to her bare skin.  This way, he didn't seem quite so far away.  It was stupid, she knew, to keep the memento.  It, too, would haunt her every time she wore it.  She also knew time eventually had to work its magic, and he wouldn't have such a hold over her.  Then she could let it go.

She climbed into bed, wondering if Joe ever thought about her, or if he'd gotten over her like she promised he would and had moved on to the next sexy vacationer.

Joe had to stop it.  He had to stop thinking about her.  He had to quit looking for Elena in the face of every beautiful blonde he came across.

He glanced in the rearview mirror, tugging on his tie.  He looked pretty good.  Tanned, new haircut, pretty damned healthy if no one noticed the dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep.  It had been four weeks.  Why couldn't he get the woman out of his head?

From his car, he studied the two-story structure located in Santa Cruz, not half a mile from the Pacific Ocean.  The newer brick building was the current home of Stephens Shipping, Incorporated.  He blew out a breath.  No better time to announce his return than the present.

Inside the corporate office, an unfamiliar receptionist greeted him.  "May I help you?"

Hell, he hadn't been gone that long, had he?  "Nope."  He smiled at the girl's questioning look.  "Joe Stephens, owner and all that."

The young brunette stood up, flustered.  "Mr. Stephens, I apologize.  I didn't—"

"Of course, you didn't.  I've been away, but I'm back now, so you'll be seeing a lot more of me."

"I'd love to."  The receptionist blushed.  "I mean that's wonderful.  I'm looking forward to it."  She blushed harder.

"And you are?"

"Charlotte Hadley."  She stuck out her hand.

He shook it and then turned away.  "Have a good morning, Ms. Hadley," he called over his shoulder as he headed for his sister's office. 

Inside, he found Renee talking on the phone.  It seemed the receptionist wasn't the only change around there.  His sister had cut her long, dark hair into a short pixie cut and had painted her office.  The subdued burnt-orange walls warmed the room while dark blue furniture provided a contrast.  His sister had never been afraid of color.

She widened her brown eyes when she spied him, and she smiled and waved for him to approach.  "Look, Daniel, I've got to go.  My brother just walked in, and I haven't seen him in almost three months.  Okay.  Call you later."

Her lips broke into a wide grin as she hung up the phone.  "God, it's good to see you.  Mom is going to be so mad.  She just left yesterday for a two-week cruise with Connie."  She met him halfway around the desk, and he crushed her with a big bear hug.

"Our mother?  She never goes anywhere."

"She does now.  I think you inspired her.  She's even talking about going to Italy."  Renee pulled back and studied his face.  "You look good, except for the circles under your eyes." 

"Late night flight," he lied.  He took a seat in one of the dark blue leather chairs in front of her desk while she walked around and sat in her seat.  "You look good, too.  I like the hair cut."  She was pretty no matter what.  As teenagers, he'd never lacked for friends because of all the guys clamoring to get closer to his sister.  "It sounds like things have gone well since I've left."

"Very well."  She smiled and lifted her chin.  "Profits are up five percent."

He furrowed his brows.  "Too well, it seems.  You haven't missed me at all."

"Of course we have.  Stephens Shipping hasn't been the same without you."

"A five percent profit increase?  I don't know.  That makes me look bad."

She grinned.  "Well, I'm not trying to brag, but you know how long I've itched to get my hands on this company.  What can I say?"  She shrugged.  "I love it."

He nodded.  "More than me, that's for sure."  It was the truth.  From the moment Renee had grasped the concept of the family business, she'd always talked about getting her turn to run Stephens Shipping.  Not him.  He'd been happiest guiding fishing tours and diving in the Pacific.  Something in him smiled when he thought of teaching others what he loved to do. 

"Just so you know, I'm in no hurry to resume my place at the head of the company quite yet.  If you'd like, maybe we can co-pilot for a while."  Until he got back into the swing of things.  Until he got used to the noose being back around his neck.  He tugged at his tie again.

"Back for five minutes, and you're already looking for a way out, huh?"  She knew him too well. 

"Nah.  I just figured I'd break myself in easy."

"Well, whatever you decide to do, I'm glad my big brother's home."

Joe sat with his feet resting on his credenza, staring out the window.  He'd been back for two days now, and he still couldn't get excited about the stack of financial reports sitting on his desk.

He leaned to the left.  If he positioned himself perfectly, he could get a decent view of the Pacific Ocean between the buildings.  The vivid blue waters taunted him, and he allowed his thoughts of starting a diving business to surface again.  He could guide fishing and diving tours like he had in Cabo,
and
operate a school, if he wanted.  There were always plenty of people looking to take up those sports. 

Renee wouldn't be heartbroken if he asked her to commandeer the business…but his father would have expected him to carry on with Stephens Shipping, and God knew his mother wouldn't let him slip away quietly in the night.  She believed Renee should be home with her children, even though they were all teenagers, and she was fiercely adamant about having a man at the helm of the business.  He sighed, frustrated with his future.  How had he ever imagined he could be happy with this life?

A knock sounded behind him, and he turned to find Renee watching him with raised brows.  She strode in and closed the door.  "You really should do something about your office."  She pointed to the worn brown leather furniture in the room.  "This is the same stuff Dad used in his office, and how much more boring can you get than white walls?"

Joe shrugged.  "It works for me."

"I'd say that ocean out there works better for you."  She nodded toward his window.

"Yeah."  He tried to hide his grin.  "It probably does, but this is where I need to be."

"Why?" 

Damn, his sister could be blunt when she wanted to.  He shrugged again.  "Because Mom wants me here.  Dad would have wanted it, too.  It's the family business.  I should take care of my responsibilities."

"The responsibilities of the business are being handled just fine by me."  She walked over and hitched a leg on his side of the desk.  "For the last twenty years, you have grown the company and made it into one of the most profitable shipping enterprises in California.  The hard part is done.  All it needs now is some guidance and direction, and I'm managing it just fine.  Better than fine, for that matter. 

"My boys are older and have their own lives, and I need something to keep me occupied.  You know James is always on the go, traversing the state, helping people and supporting whichever project will help him get re-elected."  She smiled.  "I need this job to keep me sane."

"Yeah, you love it."  He swiveled in his chair and followed her gaze out the window.  He really didn't know what he wanted from life, except to be near the ocean and Elena.  Unfortunately, she'd made it clear she wasn't interested in anything beyond Cabo.  Even though, damn it, he knew she felt something, too.

"Don't get me wrong, Joe.  I’m not trying to take this from you, but you and I both know you're not happy here.  With me at the helm, you're free to pursue what you want.  I know you think our parents want you here.  What I want, and what Dad would have wanted, was for you to be happy.  Mom wants that, too.  She's just a little old-fashioned with her way of thinking."  She nudged his shoulder.  "But she's coming along.  She left me alone here, didn't she?"

He chuckled.  Perhaps his mother could change after all.

"Besides," Renee continued.  "I know you'd rather be out there with the surf and the sun."  She looked down at him.  "Where's your boat?"

"At the marina.  Jacob saved my spot for me."

"I thought you said you flew home."

Busted.  "Boat, plane, what's the difference?"

She turned fully to him now.  "There's a big difference."  She scrutinized his face.  "It's not just coming back to work, is it?  I mean, you're back almost a month earlier than you expected to be.  Things not go okay in Cabo?  A month ago, you sounded like you were having the time of your life.  What happened?"

Elena happened.  "I got bored."  He focused on the point where the bright blue sky disintegrated into the ocean.

"Bored?  In Cabo?"  She let out a disbelieving sigh.  "With all the hot senoritas, cold beer and blue seas?"  She walked in front of him, blocking his view.  "I don't buy it, big brother."

"So?"  He folded his arms and stared up at her.  He could still get her in a headlock if he wanted to. 

She threw her hands up.  "Geez, you men are all the same.  Do I have to use a crowbar to pry the words out of you?"

Oh, hell.  He might as well tell her.  He'd never get any peace until he did.  "I met someone."

Her expression did a complete one-eighty.  "You did?  As in a woman?"

"What the hell do you think I mean?  I'm not gay." 

She looked around the room as though she were expecting someone to jump out and yell
just kidding
.  Then she trapped him with her overwhelming smile.  "Joe, this is wonderful news."  She leaned down and hugged him.  "I always knew the right woman would come along."

Renee's Mr. Right had showed up seventeen years ago, and they'd proceeded to produce three suitable sons capable of running the business after he and Renee retired.  How had he gone so wrong with his Ms. Right?