Unlikely Love: A Hot, Romantic Suspense Series: Book 1 (The Carlisle Sisters) (3 page)

Suddenly he looked at her.

“Just how grateful would you be for my guidance?”

Bethany was bewildered.

“I’m not sure I understand.  Of course you would be well compensated.  And I would be willing increase your salary, if that’s what you’re asking,” she said, already clearly demonstrating her lack of experience in negotiating.

“And if I wanted more than monetary gain?”  he laughed, choosing not to point out her faux pas.

“What more could you want?  Additional shares?  Possibly.  But that would be down the road; and I can’t promise it at this point,” she said in concern.

He moved to stand directly in front of her.

“What if I said I wanted
you
….in my bed….right now?  Are you grateful enough to do
that
?”  he barked.

Bethany gasped as he grasped her arms.

“Let me go,” she demanded.

“When I’m done,” he growled.

His head swooped down and he captured her mouth in a forceful kiss.  He kissed her hard, ravaging her lips.  She tried to pull back but his palm cupped the back of her head firmly.  She opened her mouth to scream and he pushed his tongue into her warm cavity.

Bethany pounded her fists against his strong back to no avail.  She struggled fiercely in his arms until he clamped his hands around her waist.  Then his kiss gentled and he took his time exploring her mouth.

Bethany stilled as ribbons of desire began to seep through her body.  Greyson felt her body relax and he intensified his caresses.  He stroked her bare arms and back then moved his hands to cup her firm buttocks. 

She leaned into him and he pressed her pelvis into his groin.  He grinded against her and couldn’t suppress a low moan of pleasure.  He kissed her neck and squeezed her full breasts.  She felt so good and he wanted more.

Greyson had known that he wanted to kiss her from the moment she’d entered his apartment.  Probably sooner.  He had become angry at what she had said but he’d still wanted to kiss her.  He’d used the salacious taunt to do so.  And despite her anger she was responding.  Her desire was just as strong as his own.

He didn’t like not getting The Sea View and he didn’t relish working for her and her sisters.  But he wanted Beth.  And since her mind was made up to remain at the resort, he would swallow his pride and accept her offer while aiming to get her into his bed as a consolation.  He kissed her again then regrettably lifted his mouth from hers.

“I will accept your offer.  I will see you at the office first thing on Monday.”

He moved away from her and went out onto the terrace.

Bethany was stunned.  She didn’t know what to say or do.  When he started kissing her she had thought that she didn’t want the caress.  But she had to admit that had soon changed and she welcomed his advances.

But did she want to actually sleep with him?  He had accepted her offer and made it abundantly clear that he wanted to have sex with her.  If she now allowed him to work with her would she be accepting his terms?

What had she gotten herself into?  She ran into the elevator and pushed the lobby button.  She needed to think and she couldn’t do that while standing alone in his apartment.

*****

“I’m glad to hear that you and your sisters decided to stay and run the resort.  I think it was a wise decision,” Jarod said as he put the signed documents in his briefcase.

Jarod had arrived at the suite with documents that reflected the sisters as the new owners of The Sea View.  Bethany and Tracy had signed the papers and then gone down to the pool to relax.  Jennifer had stayed behind on the pretense of answering any additional questions Jarod may have.

“I think we made the right decision.  Jonas was a lousy father but perhaps he was trying to make amends by offering us The Sea View,” Jen said.

“It’s nice to think of it that way.  And it does give the three of you an opportunity to reunite,” Jarod said.

Jen grimaced.  They had a lot of work to do in that regard.

“It will take a lot of work for my sisters and I to come back together.  But we are resolved to try,” Jen said.

Jarod lifted his briefcase from the table and stood up.

“Well, I will file these documents with the court on Monday.  It should only take about a month for the judge to sign off on them.  Then you will be the new owners of The Sea View right and tight,” Jarod said.

“Will we see you again once it’s settled?”  Jennifer asked.

“That would be up to you,” Jarod said.  “It is my hope that
you
will want to,” he responded.

Jennifer sucked in her breath.

“So he isn’t immune to me after all.  The ball is now in my court,”
she thought.

She smiled.

“You will hear from me,” she said softly.

Jarod smiled and moved to the elevator.  He paused before entering.

“Soon, I hope,” he said.

He stepped onto the elevator and the door shut before she could reply.  She decided that it was alright that she hadn’t responded.  It wouldn’t hurt to keep him guessing just a little bit.  Anticipation was a great motivator.

*****

Monday arrived quickly and the three sisters sat in the comfortable cabin that had been renovated to house the resort offices.  Bethany was especially nervous.  She hadn’t told her sisters about what had taken place when she visited Greyson.  They only knew that he had agreed to accept their offer.  Beth was too embarrassed to tell them everything and was unsure of what they would think of her.  She also wanted to hold her intimate encounter with Grey close to her heart.

She had started referring to him as Grey after that visit.  It just felt natural.  Of course, she knew she’d have to establish some kind of working relationship with him that would be acceptable to them both.  She just wasn’t sure what it would be at this point.

She sighed and wished she was back in Denver where life was uncomplicated and simple.  But that life was over and she had to learn to deal with the one she now had.  Jennifer entered the cabin, yawning.

“Was there a particular reason why we had to be here before dawn?’  Jen grumbled.  She fell into a high-back leather chair.

Tracy smiled sympathetically at her.  Beth, on the other hand, looked at her disdainfully.

“If we want to show Grey that we can operate The Sea View, then coming to work early is a good start.  Get used to it.  You’re no longer a Beverly Hills socialite that never rises before noon,” Beth snapped, realizing she’d used her new nickname for Greyson and hoping her sisters wouldn’t notice.

“I never slept so late and you don’t have to bark at me!”  Jen retorted.  “Staying at The Sea View is ridiculous!  I have no idea why I’m still here and I never should have agreed to this insanity.”

“You’re here because you want the money.  Stephon was far from generous in his settlement with you.  Quite frankly you have nowhere else to go,” Beth retorted.

“How do you know about my settlement?”  Jen asked sharply.

“I can read the gossip pages as well as anyone else,” Beth said casually.  “Stephon is a high profile person.  Of course his divorce would be considered newsworthy.  You know that as well as I do.  And from your reaction it seems those columns printed facts for a change.”

“You’re hateful!”  Jen accused.

“I’m truthful,” Beth spat.  “Something you didn’t encounter much in your former circle.”

“Come on, guys.  Stop!  This isn’t what we’re here for.  We’re trying to
repair
our relationship; not tear it apart further,” Tracy urged.

“Tell that to your mean-spirited little sister.  Her heart is too cold to entertain the thought of reconciliation,” Jen muttered.

“Only with you,” Beth returned.

They heard someone clear their throat and turned to see Greyson standing in the door.

“Greyson!  How long have you been there?”  Tracy asked nervously.

“Long enough.  I see things have started off on the right foot with all of you,” he said sarcastically.

Beth ignored his comment.

“We’re eager to begin.  Would you walk us through your Monday morning routine?”  Beth asked.

He stared at her for several intense moments.  He couldn’t stop the memories of their shared kiss from crowding his mind.  Desire penetrated his manhood at just the thought of it.  He pushed the cravings into submission and moved further into the room.  His erection was the last thing he wanted the sisters to see; especially Beth.  At least not at that moment.  He didn't want her to see the kind of power she held over him.

“I always hold a staff meeting with the departmental supervisors.  The meeting will be a good time for you to introduce yourselves and convey your intent,” Greyson said.

“Our intent?”  Jen asked.

“Yes.  What your plans are for the resort and how you intend to implement them,” he said.

“I see,” Jen said dubiously.  She looked askance at her sisters.

“We’re here to stay and the staff should understand that,” Beth said in a clear voice.

“The staff should begin arriving for the meeting in ten minutes,” he said curtly.  He moved into his office and shut the door.

“You take the lead, Beth.  It’s your idea to remain here, so you should speak to the staff.  I’m sure you don’t have a problem with that,” Jen said flatly.

“I do not.  I will speak to the staff,” Beth returned quietly, almost as if she was convincing herself that she could do it.

Jen stood and stomped out of the cabin.  Tracy went to sit beside Beth on the sofa.  She laid a hand on Beth’s shoulder.

“Are you alright?  I know speaking before the staff will be daunting,” Tracy said kindly.

“I am a little nervous—well, a lot nervous.  Are we doing the right thing, Tracy?  I was so sure in our decision…until now,” Beth worried.  “Now I feel so uncertain.”

“You’re not in this alone, Beth.  We all agreed to stay and I still believe it was the right decision,” Tracy said comfortingly.  “Don’t allow Jen to make you doubt yourself.”

“Jen and I may not be on good terms but she still could have a good point.  Perhaps we should have allowed Grey to take over The Sea View.  Jen and I wouldn’t be fighting if we had,” Beth said sadly.

“You and Jen would still be estranged had we never come here,” Tracy reminded her.  “The Sea View brought you together.  Why not let it also help to reconcile your differences?  Talk to her, Beth.  And really listen to what she says.”

“You want us to be one big happy family.  But Jen and I will never be close.  We’re two different people on the opposite ends of the spectrum,” Beth replied.

“With one common denominator,” Tracy said.

“What’s that?”

“You both survived Jonas.  We all did.  That’s a bond that nothing can ever destroy,” Tracy said.  “Cut her some slack, Beth.  Talk to her.  Hear what she has to say.”

The door opened and staff began to file in.  Their conversation was over but Tracy hoped that she had gotten through to Beth.  She needed her to be the leader not only with The Sea View but within their family.  Beth may have been the baby of the family but she was also the glue that would hold them together; she just needed to recognize and embrace it.

*****

Beth wandered along the dirt road where the resort’s cabins were located.  They faced the shoreline of Lake Jackson and were just steps from the harbor and town.  Sea View Village had been built at the same time as the resort.  It was a great place to eat, shop or take in a summer concert at the center plaza.  And, of course, there was all the boating, fishing, sunning and swimming you could ever want. 

Beth was amazed at the breadth and scope of the resort.  It was truly a magnificent achievement.  She could understand Grey’s resentment of Jonas’ duplicity. 

She had discovered from members of the staff that Grey had been at the resort from its conception.  He had partnered with Jonas and contributed a significant amount of money to the project.  But the majority of funds had come from Jonas’ bank loans; loans that were nearly paid off, making the resort even more desirable from a business standpoint.

Beth had been surprised that a bank would loan Jonas
any
money based upon his financial history, at least from what she knew of it all those years ago.  But, like most sociopaths, Jonas had always been good at persuasion and double talk and she was sure that he’d put those skills to work in this instance.  But, whatever the case, in the end it had turned out to be a good investment for the bank and all parties were happy.

It was still hard to believe that the back woods of Lake Jackson were now one of the most sought after vacation spots in the country—and it was hers.  She practically had to pinch herself to ensure that she wasn’t dreaming.

She walked into the village and strolled onto the pier.  She meandered to the end of it and sat on a bench to look out at the vast ocean.  She smiled as she took the sea air deep into her lungs.  Despite her awful childhood, she’d always liked what living in Lake Jackson had to offer.  She loved swimming in the ocean, relaxing on the beach and fishing from the shore. 

“Would you like an ice cream?”

Beth turned around to see Grey standing behind her bench holding two ice cream cones.

“The chocolate, please,” she smiled.

He handed her the cone then hopped over the bench and sat beside her.  He took a lick of his vanilla ice cream as he stared out at the water.

“It’s peaceful here, isn’t it?”  he murmured.

“Like a dream.  When I was a child I would come down to what was then just shoreline and swim as often as I could.  It was an escape from my home life,” she said.  “But everything has changed now.”

“Do you feel it was a
good
change?”  he asked.

“Absolutely.  Back then there was nothing here but mosquitos and dirt.  There were no opportunities and no future,” she answered.  “Now a person could make a nice life here if they chose to.”

“It’s what
you
have chosen.  Are you sure it’s the right choice?”  he asked.

“Yes.  This is home.  And although there were some horrific times here, this place still holds some good memories.  I want to build on those,” she answered.