Meant to Be (4 page)

“I think I understand.” Sliding the last plate into the cupboard, Beth looked around for something else to do. “Do you have a garbage can outside? I can take this bag out for you.”

“Sure, thanks. It’s off the porch, around the side of the house. Large black can.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.” Beth closed the kitchen door and let her eyes adjust to the dusk so she could see her way off the porch without falling on her face. She’d created enough of a mess already, the last thing she needed was a trip to the emergency room. Did they even have a hospital on this island?

“Hello, Elizabeth,” said a voice from the darkness. Beth tensed. Time for the moment of truth.

H
ow Joe managed to make her name sound like an insult, Beth didn’t know, but she didn’t like it. Following the sound of his voice, she found him several feet away to her left, lounging in an Adirondack chair, legs stretched before him, ankles crossed, beer in hand. Dozer filled the chair next to him, looking happier than his master to see her.

“Hello, Joe.”
Be nice, Beth. He’s going to be family soon.
“I don’t suppose you’ll let me explain about this afternoon?”

“You mean let you explain why you let me look like an idiot? Or why you lied about who you are?”

“I didn’t lie,” Beth argued, counted to ten. Fighting would get her nowhere. She needed him to see her side. “I just didn’t tell you I was the blonde bimbo you were looking for. Embarrassing you the first time we met didn’t seem like the best way to start off.”

Joe snorted. “Right. So are you Beth or Elizabeth? Are you my brother’s faithful fiancée or a woman who invites strange men into her car?”

How dare he.

“I was Beth when I was younger, but I’ve gone by Elizabeth since college. I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear your
other question.” Stepping over Joe’s feet, she stomped down the steps in search of the garbage can. Too bad she couldn’t throw Joe in the can along with the trash.

She’d crossed back over the porch and reached the door before Joe spoke again. “Which one do you like better?”

“Excuse me?”

Joe leaned forward, balancing his elbows on his knees. “Which name do you like better? Beth or Elizabeth?”

She considered her answer. The name Beth conjured images of a young, barefoot girl with wild hair and simple dreams. A girl she hardly recognized but suddenly missed.

“Beth. I like Beth better.”

“Good. So do I. Makes you sound like less of a tight-ass.”

The thin string holding her temper frayed. “Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?”

“Take it however you want.” He waved his beer bottle in her direction. “Where’s the ring?”

Beth glanced down to her bare ring finger. “Being sized. It was too big.”

“Isn’t that convenient.”

She’d had enough. “I’d thought Lucas was exaggerating when he told me about you. But he was right. You
are
an asshole.”

With that parting shot, Beth stormed into the house, certain she’d never disliked anyone half as much as she disliked Joe Dempsey.

Joe had to hand it to Lucas. He’d finally found something they could agree on. And that something was Beth Chandler. Why couldn’t she have been the blonde, materialistic bitch Joe expected? Instead of the sexy she-cat with mouthwatering curves who’d just called him an asshole.

No woman had called him an asshole in at least two years. He couldn’t help but smile. Not that Joe had any desire to try his hand at another engagement, but if he did…

Fuck.

This night was going to require several more beers, which Joe preferred to drink alone. He’d say his good-byes, whisper an apology to Patty for being such a prick, then head across the yard to his own place.

“Do you really have to go?” he heard Beth say as he walked through the front door.

“The DA filed new evidence and the judge moved the hearing up a week,” Lucas said. “You know I don’t want to go, but I have to.” Lucas pulled Beth against his body. “This is why we brought two cars, remember? We knew this might happen.”

“But we just got here and—”

“You’ll be fine. My parents already love you like I knew they would. It’s a vacation at the beach and I’ll be back as soon as I can. Promise.”

Beth backed up a step. “But this is
our
vacation, not just mine. Our chance to spend some time together. You’ve been working nonstop since we got engaged.”

All valid arguments, Joe thought. What kind of man left his fiancée for his job?

Lucas pulled Beth forward again, locking his arms around the small of her back. “We’ll have plenty of time together once this case is over. I’ll make it up to you. We’ll
go to that steak house you love. I’ll make the reservations as soon as I get home.”

A fancy meal to replace an entire vacation? Talk about getting the short end of the stick.

“Now let me see that smile,” Lucas cajoled. “Don’t make me feel guilty about this.”

Beth smiled, but even from his vantage point Joe could see her heart wasn’t in it. Not that he blamed her. Lucas’s priorities were clearly out of whack, and he was lucky his fiancée wasn’t stomping her foot and making demands like some women would.

Joe knew they hadn’t spotted him yet, and disliked feeling like a creepy Peeping Tom, so he coughed as Lucas moved in for a kiss. “What’s going on?”

The pair looked his way. “I got a call from the firm,” Lucas said. “Turns out they’ve been trying to reach me on my cell and had to get Mom’s number from my secretary. I can’t believe there’s still no cell service on this island. Is there any talk of putting in a tower?”

“No,” Joe said. Lucas never did get the concept of being disconnected from the rest of the world. Heaven forbid he miss something.

Lucas sighed. “A case I’ve been working is about to blow up, so I’ll be heading back first thing in the morning.” He approached Joe. “Elizabeth is going to stay here. And she’s going to have a good time, right?”

A challenge from little brother. This was new. Joe shrugged. “She’ll be fine. Patty’ll take care of her.”

“She’s here to get to know the whole family, not just Patty. I’d like her to still want to marry me when this visit is over, understand?”

Joe lowered his voice. “If she changes her mind about marrying you, it won’t be because of me.” With those parting words, Joe headed for the kitchen.

Patty and his dad were hovering near the sink and Joe knew they’d heard the conversation from the living room. All but his parting words. They stopped talking when he entered.

“I’m going home. Burgers were great, Dad, as usual.”

“Can’t say as much for the company.”

Tension rolled through Joe’s shoulders. “I’ve gotten the look enough from Patty tonight, I don’t need shit from you, too. I was an ass. I apologize.” Joe dropped his empty longneck in the recycle bin. When he looked up, the two most important people in his life were staring at him as if he’d grown a new eyeball in the middle of his forehead. “What?”

“Who are you and what have you done with Joe?” his stepmom asked. He’d have been pissed if she hadn’t said it with a smile.

“Funny.”

“Patty,” his dad said. “I think our boy is growing up.”

“You two ought to take this act on the road,” Joe said, closing the kitchen door behind him.

The next morning, Beth followed Lucas to his car, pretending his imminent departure didn’t bother her. “It’s a shame you have to drive back after just getting here.”

“I’m not looking forward to it, but you know I don’t have a choice,” Lucas replied, pulling her against him. Maybe
he didn’t have a choice. These cases were important to his career. “I’ll do what I can to get back, but if this evidence is as damning as it sounds, this could take a week to straighten out.”

“Are you sure no one else on the team can handle it? What about Miller? Or Bainbridge? They’ve been with the firm longer than you have.”

Lucas kissed the top of her head. “I’m the bulldog on this team, and this evidence is going to take all the bite I’ve got.” A gentle finger lifted her chin until their eyes met. “If I’m going to make partner, I have to win these big cases. We talked about the sacrifice that would take, right?”

They’d talked. And Beth had nodded at all of Lucas’s valid points. Making partner was his dream and she needed to be supportive. At least she got to see him every day in the office. A few weeknight dinners alone wouldn’t kill her.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t give you a hard time.” It wasn’t as if he was choosing the job over her. She would be fine. “Be careful, and call me when you get there so I know you made it safe.”

“You’re cute when you’re being all motherly.” He smiled down at her, and Beth thought it a shame Lucas didn’t have Joe’s dimple.

Where did that come from?

“I need to go.” A quick peck on the lips, and Lucas climbed into the car. “I’ll hit traffic before Williamsburg, but should still make it to the office before two. Don’t let Joe bully you. He’s probably going to be a jerk for a while, but I know you’ll win him over. If he’s still being an ass in a few days, let me know and I’ll sic Mom on him.”

As if mentioning his mom had conjured her into being, Patty appeared on Beth’s right. “Don’t worry about Elizabeth, we’ll take care of her. You be careful and call us when you get there.”

Lucas gave Beth a smile that said, “See? Mothering.” She stepped back with Patty so he could close the door, and seconds later, his BMW faded into the distance. She was alone, with her future in-laws on a tiny island surrounded by water and boats. The only element missing from her childhood nightmares was the boogeyman.

“There you are,” Joe said, coming up behind them.

On second thought, all nightmare elements present and accounted for.

“I’m meeting Sid to test the boat and I don’t know when we’ll be back. Can Dozer stay with you today?”

Patty feigned irritation with the dog leaning against her side, but the bond between woman and mutt was obvious. “I wish I could help, but I need to be at the restaurant to set up for lunch. The crowds are picking up, and Daisy is still up in Norfolk visiting her grandmother.”

“Never mind then.”

“I can watch him,” Beth said. She may not like Joe, but she still needed to win him over. Winning over his dog might be a good place to start. She hadn’t had a dog in more than ten years, and never one the size of the small horse leaning on Patty. But how hard could it be?

“You’ll watch Dozer?”

Beth shrugged. “You said he likes me.”

Patty looked over in surprise. “Dozer likes you? When did this happen?”

Joe tilted his head to the side, letting her handle the mess she’d just made. Shoot. She couldn’t lie to her future mother-in-law, could she?

“Um…last night when I took out the garbage. Joe and Dozer were out here on the porch, and we got to know each other a bit.” At Joe’s raised brow she added, “Dozer and I. Dozer and I got to know each other.”

Patty looked from Beth to Joe as if seeking confirmation. Joe dropped the subject. “I’ve got to go, Sid’s waiting.” Turning to Beth he said, “I’ve already fed him, so he’s good until dinnertime. Did you plan on taking him anywhere?”

It was Beth’s turn to look confused. “Where would I go? I don’t know my way around here.”

“I have a map,” Patty said. “We keep them in the house for the tourists. The village spans two miles of sand. Tough to get lost in a place that small.” Then she turned to Joe. “With Lucas gone and business picking up at the restaurant, you need to show Elizabeth around. She shouldn’t have to be on her own the whole time she’s here.”

“I run a business, too, you know.”

Beth felt like the new girl in the neighborhood trying to get the boy next door to play with her. Well, she didn’t want to play with him either. “Really, it’s okay. I don’t mind wandering around on my own.”

“Maybe you could take her out on the boat,” Patty said, as if neither of them had spoken.

“No!” The word came out much louder than Beth intended. “I mean, I don’t want to put anyone out. And, uh, I don’t like boats. Much.”

“Joe’s isn’t a small one, if that’s what you’re worried about.” This conversation needed to end. Especially considering the look that comment put on Joe’s face.