Читать книгу Love In Catalina Cove - Brenda Jackson - Страница 15

CHAPTER SIX

SAWYER ENTERED THE meeting room and glanced around. It was full. Evidently there was something on the agenda that piqued a number of people’s interest. Trudy had printed the agenda for him before he’d left the office, but he hadn’t had a chance to look at it.

“Evening, Sheriff.”

He looked at Reid Lacroix, the man who owned the Lacroix Blueberry Plant and who was the largest employer in town. “Evening, Reid,” Sawyer said, moving toward the vacant chair at the head table beside Kaegan.

“What’s going on? Is someone giving away free lottery tickets?” he asked Kaegan when he took his seat.

Kaegan grinned over at him. “I take it you didn’t look at your agenda.”

“Nope, didn’t have time.”

Kaegan nodded. “The Baxters want us to reconsider letting them put up that privacy fence on the back of their property. I think he and Josh Guyton finally reached an agreement about it and just need our approval. However, I figure most of the people are here because of the developer who wants to build that tennis resort.”

Sawyer lifted a brow. “Some developer wants to build a tennis resort in the cove?”

“Yes, and I heard they’re willing to offer the locals free membership at their facilities for the first year and free tennis lessons for the kids.”

“You think the town is going to let them come in and build?”

“I doubt it. Reid Lacroix is totally against it and most people follow his lead. He hates change, although not all change is bad. Membership in that resort will give our young people something to do after school and over the summer months. For all we know there might be another Serena or Venus Williams living in the cove. Besides, work at the resort will bring new jobs.”

“And where do the developers want to build this resort?” Sawyer asked.

“At the site of what is now Shelby by the Sea. It’s been up for sale since Ms. Shelby passed and I knew it was just a matter of time before some developer showed an interest in it, especially since it’s right there on the gulf. However, I think a lot of the townspeople were hoping Ms. Shelby’s niece would move back and reopen the inn.”

“Vashti Alcindor?”

Kaegan raised a brow. “You know Vashti?”

“Not personally. I pulled her over two days ago on Highway 63 and gave her a ticket for speeding.”

Kaegan grinned. “She couldn’t talk you out of it?”

“She didn’t even try, although I think she expected to be given a warning ticket instead of an actual ticket.”

“I can understand that. Back in the day, unless the locals were speeding excessively, tickets were rarely given out.”

“I discovered that fact when I became sheriff. I told Ms. Alcindor that I don’t give warning tickets.”

“Well, I’m glad she’s back in town, even if it’s just for a little while. It will be good to see her again today.”

There it was, that odd sensual pull at his gut when Kaegan mentioned Vashti. “She will be at the meeting today?” he asked to make sure. He hadn’t expected to see her twice in the same day.

“Yes. I understand that Vashti and the developer will try to convince the board to lift zoning restrictions. Otherwise, the sale will fall through. I heard she’s been offered a lot of money for the place.”

Sawyer looked at his watch. “The meeting is about to begin, and I hope we’re not here too late this evening.” He liked being home to help Jade with any homework she might need his help with.

More people filed in and Sawyer finally got a chance to read the meeting’s agenda. There was Vashti’s name and the name of the developer, both slated to speak, no doubt to sway the board their way. Good luck on that. Just like Kaegan said, Reid Lacroix carried a lot of weight in this town and if he didn’t want anything to come to the town, it didn’t come. After living in the cove for four years, Sawyer had learned that about him. He liked the man. He had no reason not to as long as Lacroix operated within the confines of the law. But he knew the man was a staunch conservative who didn’t believe in change.

Sawyer agreed with what Kaegan said about some change being good. He would admit one of the things that had drawn him to Catalina Cove, other than the fact he’d inherited the house Johanna owned here, was the small-town atmosphere. He liked it. After living in large metropolitan cities, the small-town environment was what he felt he needed to raise his daughter. He had no complaints. Today, he would keep an open mind and vote accordingly.

“Hello, Sawyer.”

He glanced over at the woman who’d taken the seat next to him. He inwardly cringed. There was only so much he could take of Rachel Libby. The woman had done whatever she could to garner his attention. She couldn’t get the fact that he just wasn’t interested. It had nothing to do with her being ten years older than him since she did look good for her age. It had everything to do with her assumption that just because she was interested in him he should fall in line. Someone failed to tell her that the laws of sexual chemistry didn’t work that way.

“Hello, Rachel.”

She leaned in a little too close and he thought whatever perfume she was wearing was almost stifling. “Would you like to come to my house for dinner later?”

“No, thanks. I’ve cooked already. Besides, I have a daughter waiting at home for me.”

“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?