Between Rains, page 16
“It seems you two are making progress,” she said, changing the subject.
“I took your advice. You were right,” he admitted. “Bitterness can eat you up inside. I’m trying really hard to see things from Jared’s perspective. I see now that he has changed. He’s different, and I’m proud of him.”
Diane beamed. “That’s so good to hear, Rhett. Truly.” She tossed the twig aside. “Feels good, doesn’t it? I mean, leaving the junk behind and moving on.” She stopped talking.
“Yes, it does feel good,” Rhett said cautiously, wondering if she’d realized what she’d said.
She broke her gaze and looked across the water. “I suppose you think I need to follow my own advice.”
Rhett was smart enough to stay quiet on that point. Instead, he decided to hear her out.
“I’m so scared,” she admitted. “My life is so good, right now. I don’t want to mess this up.”
Rhett lifted his eyebrow. “You think taking our relationship a step further would mess your life up?”
“No—yes, I mean—I don’t know,” she said, distracted by some deep thought. “Mom tells me you were engaged once. Tell me about your fiancée.”
“My fiancée?”
“Yes, tell me about her.” Her expression turned serious. “What happened? Why did you end things?”
Rhett swallowed. What was there to say? He’d been stupid…and selfish. Diane wasn’t the only one to make mistakes in the romance department. And he told her so.
“Actually, she broke off the engagement.”
Rhett hadn’t thought about Cherie for a long time. His mind drifted back to those early days right after he’d moved to Chicago. Things were tight then. He worked around the clock, especially since most of his income was commission-based. In addition to managing the accounts assigned to him, he manned the order desk at night. And sleep? He had barely known he meaning of the word. The days were long, the nights short, the sales efforts intense.
So when he was invited to an after-hours office party, his first inclination was to say no. Remembering advice he’d received at an earlier Chicago Economic Outlook luncheon, he decided to push aside his reservations and take advantage of an opportunity to network. “The lone wolf howls to no one,” warned his mentor.
It was there at that party, held at the prestigious Forest Glen Country Club, that he met the woman who would steal his heart for the first time.
Cherie Nicholson Wallace was the daughter of a man who’d become wealthy by selling lucrative restaurant franchises. Cherie was the smartest, kindest, strongest, funniest person he’d ever known. She was going to law school and wanted to help people.
That was where the rub started. He was driven, worked long hours, and only cared about getting ahead. She, on the other hand, thought she might end up a public defender or, better still, start a free legal office for the underprivileged in need of counsel.
“In the end, our differences drove us apart,” Rhett admitted to Diane. “She was the one smart enough to pull the plug and declare our relationship over.” It’d broken his heart, but he’d found solace in his work.
“So, that was it? The end of your romantic endeavors?”
“Well, I dated some—off and on. A few years back, I met a woman who worked at my firm. She was as driven as I was, which introduced its own set of difficulties. It’s hard to build trust when you vie for the same top sales slots and the bonuses that brings. We drifted along for a couple of years until she met someone else—a guy she felt was better suited to her life goals.” He let out a wry laugh. “And that’s a quote. Frankly, while the end of those relationships smarted a bit, I knew neither of them was really right, you know?” His hand went to her hair. He ran his fingers lightly through her long blonde curls. “In some ways, it felt good to move on,” he repeated. “This might sound overly sentimental, but I have watched my parents for years. I know what a good relationship looks like, and I want that.”
Her face filled with conflict. Rhett could tell she desperately wanted to let her past go, to be brave and venture ahead. People weren’t meant to be alone. He wasn’t meant to be alone. “Diane, I can’t promise much,” he said, trying once again to reassure her. “But I vow never to hurt you.”
Her face filled with longing. “I know—I do know that,” she said with a light breath. She made the admission as if trying to convince herself of the truth of it. Then, she surprised him by leaning forward. “I want—” Her voice drifted, but her intention was clear from the look in her eyes.
Rhett felt a warm rush rise up inside him. She wanted him.
He slipped his hand around the back of Diane’s neck, moved closer. Her lips parted.
Suddenly, his cell phone rang in his pocket.
“Blast it!” he growled. Angry, he pulled the dreaded thing out and glanced to see who had interrupted their moment.
The caller was unidentified, but he recognized the area code. It was a Chicago number. He reluctantly pulled the phone to his ear. “Yeah?”
“Rhett, I’m glad I caught you,” the voice said through the phone. “This is Richard Manicke.”
Rhett’s heart lurched. What was the president of Chicago Private Equity Group calling him for?
Out of instinct, he stepped away a few feet for privacy. When the call ended, he returned to where Diane was sitting.
He held out the phone and stared at it, still not entirely believing the conversation he’d just had. “That was the top guy at my old firm,” he told her.
“Yeah? What did he want?”
“They’ve fired my former boss, Judith Sandidge. They want me to return and take her place.” While he felt sorry for Judith, he couldn’t help but smile at the thought of her experiencing exactly what she’d dished out to him.
Before he could explain further, Diane visibly withdrew. She stood.
He reached for her, but she held up an open hand. “No, Rhett. You don’t have to explain.” She turned away from him and sprinted down the path.
Stunned at what had just transpired, he watched as she picked up the pace, turned and headed for the house.
23
Rhett raced after Diane as she sprinted across the lawn. Nearly out of breath, he caught up and grabbed her arm. “Diane? What’s the matter? Why are you running?”
She turned to face him, her face mottled with frustrated tears. “Don’t you see? I told you. I didn’t want to fall for you. I can’t do this—not to myself, to Stacey. Worse, I can’t take the risk to my sobriety.”
“Diane, what are you talking about?”
Her hands went to the sides of her face and she closed her eyes. “I can’t.”
“Can’t?” Rhett reached for her, but she pulled away.
The back door opened and Grace appeared, followed by Ellen and Jared. “Everything all right?” Rhett’s mom asked.
Diane drew a deep breath and quickly wiped at her face. “We’re fine,” she lied. To prove it, she lifted her lips in a wide smile.
Both mothers marched the short distance and joined them.
“Honey, what’s the matter?” Ellen parked her hands on her hips, turned to Rhett. “Did you do something to her?”
“No,” Rhett argued. “I didn’t do anything.” He paused, wondering why he felt the need to defend himself. “We were talking…about our relationship. I got a call.”
Diane pushed a strand of sweaty hair off her forehead, now clearly embarrassed over her reaction. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” she said, keeping that faltering smile firmly in place. “Rhett didn’t do anything. I—well, he’s leaving. Rhett’s going back.”
His mother lifted her eyebrows. “What do you mean?” She turned to Rhett. “You’re going back?”
“He intends to return to Chicago,” Diane explained. She lifted her chin, trying to pull in her emotions and collect herself. “He’s been offered a job back at his old firm.” She reached for Rhett’s arm. “Look, I’m happy for you. I know you’ve worked hard and deserve this.”
Ellen and Grace glanced at each other, confused.
Jared ran his hand through the side of his hair. “Wait. You’re leaving? What about Dad?” His expression turned dark. “And the oyster farm? You said you were in this for the long haul. What? Did that mean until something better came along?” Disgusted, he pivoted and heading for the house without waiting for his brother to respond.
“Wait!” Rhett called out. “Everyone, please. You owe it to me to let me explain.” He looked at Diane. “All of you.”
“Yes, I have a new job,” he admitted. “But it’s not back in Chicago.”
He told them about the call from Richard Manicke, explaining that he’d been shelved at the equity firm for making the decision to remain here in Pacific Bay. “I made a decision to stay, at least for a while, so I could help sort things out with Pop, and all,” Rhett explained. “And then we got Dr. Michaels’s diagnosis. That changed everything.”
He went on to report his call with Judith Sandidge, how she wasn’t willing to let his personal needs come before those of the firm. She’d forced him off the Markowitz account which led to his resignation, especially when Rhett realized he was needed here permanently.
“Well, of all the—I’ve never heard of such a thing!” Grace said, not taking the news well. “I thought you simply resigned. I didn’t know you were pushed out.” She parked her hands on her hips and scowled. “You helped build that firm. I, for one, know you often worked round the clock to close deals. Did she even consider how much you contributed to the success of that place?”
His mother’s indignation brought him a strange sense of comfort. She’d always been in his corner. No doubt, she remained his strongest supporter.
“Well, what goes around comes around, I guess. Apparently, in my absence, the Markowitz deal went down the drain. The board of directors laid the blame directly at Judith Sandidge’s feet, so to speak. They voted unanimously to invite her out.”
Grace couldn’t help herself. Her face broke into a wide smile. “And they called you to take over.”
Rhett nodded. “Yes, that they did.” He looked over at Diane. “I admit, it felt good to be vindicated, at least in part. And the compensation package they are dangling is nothing to sneeze at.”
Diane bit at her lip, listening intently without comment.
Rhett stepped closer to her, looked her directly in the eyes. “But I’m afraid I can’t accept.”
His mother was the first to ask why. Jared echoed her sentiment. “You mean, you’re not going back?”
Rhett glanced across at their faces. He grinned. “Can’t. Like I tried to explain, I already accepted a job in Portland.”
Now, it was Ellen’s turn to voice surprise. “Portland? What’s in Portland?”
“The Brain Institute,” Rhett explained. “Dr. Michaels contacted me a while ago. I didn’t tell you earlier because we were still nailing down all the details, but I’m going to head up a new foundation they are establishing to fund research. Very expensive research.” He turned back to Diane, placed his hand on her arm. “I will buy a place here in Pacific Bay and only be in Portland for necessary meetings. There will be occasions I’ll have to travel beyond that, but only days at a time.”
Jared looked skeptical. “But wait. I thought you were going to take over for Dad here at the oyster farm.”
Rhett gripped his brother’s shoulder. “Someone already has that job. Someone who is very capable and reliable. I’ll be here to help, of course. Just like I always had been. Dad will contribute, too, until he no longer is able. But the day-to-day operation is yours, bro.”
Rhett turned his attention back to Diane, who was clearly overwhelmed with relief. “As for this young lady, well—I intend to spend a lot of time with her.” He placed his fingers under her chin and lifted her face to his. “And not as merely friends.”
He pulled her close. “Just to be clear, I’m looking for something real. A relationship. You think you’re ready for that?”
She ran her hands over his chest. “Yes,” she responded. “I’d like that, too.”
Rhett smiled in spite of himself. Months back, he’d thought he was coming to Pacific Bay for simply a visit. His pop’s diagnosis had changed everything. Mostly, it changed him. He realized there was more to life than closing the next deal and climbing the corporate ladder. There was family. And the possibility of love with a woman he greatly admired.
His mom was right. Despite inevitable storms, life was good in between the rains. When you think you’ve been hijacked by circumstances, placed on hold—really, you’re just making room for the magic moments. Moments that become the memories you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.
Diane stared at him through a mist of tears.
Over the course of his adult life, Rhett had signed off on more than his share of important transactions. He knew he wanted Diane. He was beginning to believe she wanted him back, but the ball was firmly in her court. There was no hurry. He had all the time in the world to close this deal. The first step would be to concentrate on making her happy. Starting right now.
Despite the fact everyone was watching, he leaned in closer and cradled Diane’s jaw with his fingers, lifting her face to his. She caught her breath just before his lips found hers.
The taste of her mouth was heady and sweet. A soft moan escaped her lips.
He felt his own breath shallow, his gut tighten. His mouth descended again, dominant and possessive until her lips wholly surrendered to his.
“I—I’m glad you’re staying,” she finally whispered, tears streaming her cheeks.
The door to the house suddenly opened, and Wylie stepped onto the back deck, followed by Billy and little Levi.
“Hey,” Wylie called out. “These kids tell me it’s Thanksgiving. Doesn’t that mean we should eat dinner pretty soon?”
Grace threw back her head and laughed. “Don’t worry. We’re coming, honey.”
SNEAK PEAK
UNDER A MAUI SKY
The Maui Island Series - Book 1
* * *
Chapter 1
* * *
Ava Briscoe took a deep breath and leaned forward to check her appearance in the bamboo-framed mirror on the wall above the sink. “Goodness,” she thought. “This dress and pearls make me look…well, old.” Like most women living on the island of Maui, she’d much prefer wearing a comfortable, loose-fitted garment, something happy and bright-colored.
She pulled the tube of lipstick to her mouth, then leaned a little closer. It was true. A person’s eyesight goes the minute you turn forty. In her case, forty had come and gone. She’d been wearing readers and misplacing them for years.
As Ava drew the color over her lips, she couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under her eyes. No amount of that miracle product she’d ordered from Amazon had erased the tell-tale signs she hadn’t slept in days.
“Mom?” Christel peeked her head through the bathroom door. “I think it’s about time.”
Ava smiled weakly back at her oldest daughter and pushed the lid back on her lipstick tube. “Okay.”
“You alright, Mom?”
Ava forced a brightness in her voice. “Sure, honey. No need to worry.” She moved to join her daughter at the door, smoothed her dress. “I just want to see your dad a minute first.”
Christel slowly nodded. “Yeah, okay. Sure. Want me to go with—”
“No,” Ava quickly assured her. “I’ll join you in a minute.”
Christel nodded a second time. “Okay. I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, baby.” Ava turned and took one final glance in the mirror, pressed a stray curl back in place, then headed for the door.
The church foyer was now nearly empty as she walked across the tiled floor past the open double doors leading outside to the gardens. A slight breeze carried the scent of plumeria and white ginger and blew that stray curl out of place again. Ava gave up and tucked the rogue piece of hair behind her ear for good measure.
Wailea Seaside Chapel was located on Molokini Bluff with breathtaking ocean views and luxurious grounds. The chapel was like something out of a fairytale and featured soaring rafters, hand-carved wooden pews, and stained-glass windows. She and Lincoln had been married here, as had her younger daughter, Katie.
A ukulele played from inside the chapel where the others were gathered. She couldn’t help herself. The corners of her lips turned up slightly as she recognized her favorite song—Somewhere Over the Rainbow. The version by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, or Iz, as people on the island called him.
Her hand went to the knob on the closed door to the right of the potted Bromeliad plant. She pushed the door ajar slightly, listened to make sure only her husband was in the room. Detecting no one, she entered.
“Lincoln, can you hear that? They’re playing our song,” she said, as she neared her husband. She reached and straightened his tie, then pulled the lapels of that awful suit into alignment. “Remember? That was the song that was playing that first night at the Grand Wailea.”
Ava had been less than twenty years old when she met Lincoln Briscoe at her best friend’s wedding. She was the maid of honor. Lincoln, the best man.
From the moment she laid eyes on him, her focus was scattered, so filled with nervous anticipation, even giddy. When they were seated next to each other at the luau reception, she couldn’t even hold a conversation. Her thoughts danced in infinite directions as they lifted glasses in a toast to their friends, the newly married couple. She could picture the scene already—the two of them holding hands on their first date. He would take her for a long bare-footed walk on Mokapu Beach and watch the sun set behind craggy black rocks with towering palms.
Amazing thing? It had been just like that.
