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“Thanks, hon.” Mary Pat gathered the gravy bowl and biscuit plate. “I’d hate for these good leftovers to go to waste.”
Five minutes later, Jade juggled a heavily loaded tray so she could rap lightly on the door of Trevor’s suite. Judging by the weight of the tray, Mary Pat hadn’t believed Trevor’s claims that he wasn’t hungry. Though the food was beneath covers, it felt like enough to feed two or three men.
She couldn’t help thinking of her brief visit with him last night. Even disheveled in shorts and T-shirt, grumpy and hurting, he’d been undeniably all virile male. Disconcerting so. Perhaps she’d been too strongly reminded of all the times she’d tended her husband after he’d injured himself in one of his daredevil sports.
She’d loved Stephen madly, but she’d never fully understood why he’d been so willing to risk breaking his neck just to challenge himself, to the worry of everyone who loved him. For a moment, she almost pitied any woman who’d let herself fall for charming, often reckless Trevor. But then again, she suspected he’d be a hard man to resist for any woman who hadn’t already lived through that constant anxiety.
Hearing muffled words she interpreted as “Come in,” she balanced the tray with one arm as she opened the door. The sitting area was empty, so she followed sounds to the attached office, a sunny room equipped with what appeared to be state-of-the-art technology. The office door was open and she could see Trevor sitting at his desk, his back to her as he worked a keyboard, making spreadsheets and other forms flash across the monitor in front of him.
“I told you I’m not hungry, Mary Pat. My damn leg is killing me and I have a hundred things to do. I’ll eat in a while.”
He was definitely cranky, Jade thought with raised eyebrows. It was the first time she’d ever heard him snap. And it said even more about his close relationship with his housekeeper that he allowed himself to be less than proper and professional in front of her.
“I’m not Mary Pat, but I suspect she’ll be in shortly to make sure you’ve eaten despite your objections.”
He spun his chair in response to her voice, then grimaced when the sudden movement obviously caused him pain. He schooled his expression immediately, settling his features into what she’d come to think of as his “gracious host face.” She rather regretted that he felt the need to hide behind it with her when she’d begun to think of them as friends.
“Jade. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so rude. Thanks for bringing a tray. You can just set it there. I’ll eat when I’ve finished reading this report.”
The table he pointed to sat in front of a small sofa positioned between two bookcases. Like the cases in his sitting area, this one was also filled almost to capacity with books that looked well-read, she noted as she set down the tray with care. She always appreciated a fellow book lover.
Absently rubbing his right knee, he tilted his head toward her, still in apologetic mode. “I told Mary Pat I’d just have an apple or something for breakfast, but she’s determined to stuff me with food every chance she gets. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised she recruited you to make the delivery.”
“I didn’t mind. How’s your leg this morning?”
“It’s better, thanks.”
Jade placed her hands on her hips and merely looked at him.
After a moment, he sighed faintly, sounding just perceptibly cross again when he conceded, “Okay, it hurts. And before you go all Nurse Jade on me, I had it propped up earlier. Just put it down for a while so I could get some work done.”
“I didn’t come in to nag you,” she assured him. “I just brought your breakfast. You’re a grown-ass man. Whether you eat—or elevate your leg—it’s entirely up to you.”
Her pointed retort seemed to catch him by surprise. After a brief pause, he laughed sheepishly. “Sorry. Believe it or not, I’m usually much more gracious to my guests than that. I have no excuse.”
“This is your home, Trevor, not your resort,” she reminded him. “And I’m a friend, not a guest. So, don’t feel that you have to pretend for me that everything is just hunky-dory.”
“Hunky-dory?” He chuckled. “Haven’t heard that term in a while.”
She smiled. “Something my grandmother said frequently. I find myself quoting her a lot these days.”
“I know the feeling. I hear myself sounding a lot like my dad at times, even though I’ve spent most of my life trying to be different.”
Maybe he realized suddenly how that could be interpreted. “My dad’s a great guy, of course,” he added. “I’ve always just wanted to explore my own paths, rather than follow in the family footsteps.”
His family’s fortune came from three or four generations of hotels and other real estate dealings, she mused. Did he really think establishing a chain of resorts was such a different path? Rather amused by what seemed to be his idea of rebellion, she spoke lightly. “I suppose we’re all influenced by family ultimately. Heaven only knows what my kids will pick up from me.”
She thought he relaxed with the quip, as though relieved by the redirection. “Nothing to worry about there, I’m sure.”
“Well, I have been known to let the S-word slip out in front of them when I get mad,” she said solemnly. “‘Oh, sheesh!’”
“Sheesh?” he repeated. “Who’d have guessed you had such a potty mouth, Jade Evans?”
His spontaneous laugh pleased her. It made her feel good to think she’d distracted him from his pain, if only briefly. She smiled back at him. “What can I say? I’m unpredictable.”
She’d been joking, of course, yet something in his expression looked a bit speculative when he murmured, “I’m beginning to realize that.”
Their gazes held for a moment, and then she cleared her throat and took a step toward the doorway. “Yes, well, this rebel has to take her kids to buy notebooks and backpacks for the first day of school. Is there anything I can pick up for you while I’m out?”
He was already turning back to his computer. “Thank you, but I’m good. Enjoy your outing.”
“Better eat some of that breakfast before Mary Pat comes in to check,” she advised over her shoulder as she left.
She heard him chuckle quietly, though he didn’t reply. He was likely already totally immersed in those “hundred things” he needed to do.
She could only imagine how much responsibility he held for his growing enterprise with its widespread properties and many employees, investors and guests. From what little she’d observed so far, she suspected delegation was not one of Trevor’s strengths.
It was no wonder he was in no hurry to add even more obligations to his plate. He would probably be relieved when the repairs were completed at her house, and so would she. The last thing she wanted to do was to become a burden on Trevor—or on anyone else, for that matter. She took care of herself and her own, and she liked it that way.
* * *
CALEB AND ERIN begged to run straight to the pool after the exhausting shopping trip, and Jade agreed. They’d been cooperative during the outing—for the most part—and hadn’t squabbled—much—so she figured they’d earned a swim.
They’d explored most of Shorty’s Landing, scouting out shops and parks to visit later. They’d been greeted warmly by the small town’s tourist-oriented business community. Rather than ice cream, they’d decided to stop in to a coffee-and-doughnut shop, The Perkery. Located on the main thoroughfare, nestled among a variety of shops, the colorful place had caught their eye and drawn them in.
The kids had been mesmerized by the glass display case filled with pastries, cakes and cookies. The shop’s owner, Elle O’Meara, had introduced herself and insisted on giving each of the kids a free treat to welcome them to town. She’d invited them to come back soon, and assured Jade she was available to answer any questions she might have about the community.
The kids were still on the sugar high from their doughnuts when they dashed out into Trevor’s backyard to play and swim. Jade had hesitated about putting on her own swimsuit to join them. Knowing Trevor was home made her self-conscious, for some reason. But telling herself that was foolish, she’d changed into a tankini and flip-flops and accompanied her children out to the pool.
Trevor probably wouldn’t come outside, anyway. And even if he did, she wasn’t bothered by being seen in a bathing suit. Considering she’d borne three children, she was content with her curves. School started the day after tomorrow, and she’d start working full-time on Monday, so she should take advantage of every opportunity to spend time with the kids.
Jade, Caleb and Erin had barely gotten in the water when Mary Pat came out with a tray holding iced lemonades. She set the tray on a patio table, and Bella settled into one of the chairs with a tumbler. Once again, Bella had donned her swimsuit, but it wasn’t even wet. She’d dipped her feet into the pool, but had resisted Jade’s attempts to entice her farther into the water.
Caleb and Erin scrambled up the stairs built into the manmade rocks of the waterfall, then descended noisily into the pool on the curving slide. “Mom, come play,” Erin called out, climbing the steps again. “It’s fun.”
“Maybe in a bit.” Tired from herding her trio from store to store, Jade was enjoying floating lazily in the cool, rippling water. The late-afternoon sun slanted across the surface and warmed her cheeks. All she wanted to do was close her eyes and float...
“Hi, Mr. Trevor!”
Jade’s eyes opened instantly in response to Erin’s cheery greeting, followed by a noisy splash as the girl sped down the slide into the pool. Seeing that Trevor had come outside on crutches and was making his way carefully across the tile, Jade swam to the side of the pool, pushing back her wet hair.
She frowned as she watched Trevor balance himself on the crutches, placing them carefully on the tiles while keeping his weight off his right leg. He wore navy board shorts and a gray T-shirt. Was he planning to come into the pool?
Echoing the thought, Erin called out, “Can you swim with us, Mr. Trevor, or is your leg too hurt?”
Standing at the top of the steps into the pool, he smiled. The sunlight slanted over his face, making his blue eyes glitter and bringing out the hints of gold in his light brown hair. The shorts revealed the scars on his right leg, and a few on his left, yet somehow he managed to look strong and self-assured even on crutches. Not to mention downright sexy, Jade thought, privately acknowledging her hormones were still fully functional.
Shaking her head, as much to clear it as to express disapproval, she said, “It’s Mr. Farrell, Erin.”
“Mr. Trevor is fine with me.” He set his crutches aside, slipped out of his sandals, and lowered himself carefully to the side of the pool, letting his feet dangle into the water. Smiling at Jade, he added, “I’m sure Mary Pat has told you we’re very informal here.”
Caleb swam up to paddle nearby, peering at Trevor’s legs as if assessing the damage to them. Jade knew that without his glasses, Caleb’s vision was somewhat fuzzy, but he was only mildly nearsighted, fortunately.
“How are you feeling, Mr. Trevor?” he asked with the careful manners Jade had tried to instill in him.
“I’m better, thank you, Caleb. How’s the water?”
“It’s a great pool,” the boy answered enthusiastically. “I like the slide. And the waterfall.”
“Did you check out the grotto behind the waterfall?”
Momentary silence followed Trevor’s question. And then Caleb asked, “There’s a grotto?”
“What’s a grotto?” Erin demanded.
“It’s like a cave, right, Mr. Trevor?”
Trevor chuckled. “That’s right, Caleb. And having watched you two swim, I’m sure you can find it, if your mom says it’s okay.”
He glanced at Jade then to add, “It’s safe as long as we’re here to watch them.”
She gave a nod to Caleb, who started swimming toward the waterfall with Erin right behind him. During their one previous swim, they’d been too entertained by the slide and the diving board to pay more than cursory attention to the waterfall itself. Now Jade watched as they peered behind the falling water and grinned in delight at what they discovered.
“Can we go in, Mr. Trevor?” Caleb called out.
“Of course.”
Seeing them disappear through the fall, Jade looked up at Trevor with a lifted eyebrow.
“It’s a small cave room,” he explained. “There’s a curved rock bench and colored lights embedded in the walls. Mary Pat turned those on when the swimming started. You can swim in, hoist yourself onto the bench and relax while you watch the waterfall in front of you.”
“Sounds lovely. Did you design it?”
“With help from a pool architect,” he admitted.
Tilting her wet head, she asked, “And how many times have you been in there just to relax?”
He cleared his throat. “A couple, maybe.”
“That’s what I thought.” Everything she’d heard about Trevor from his family and his housekeeper—not to mention her own observations during the past few days—led her to believe he was quite the workaholic. His idea of relaxing with strenuous sports was significantly different from her own more languid pursuits. She shook her head, her wet hair tickling the back of her neck with the movement. “How’s your leg?”
“It really does feel better. Ice and anti-inflammatories have been helpful. Thought I’d get some water exercise while everyone else is out here.”
“Swimming is an excellent way to keep you active while you recover,” she agreed, sliding automatically into nurse mode. “The water helps support your weight so you don’t stress your knee. Just be careful not to twist it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His tone was good-naturedly teasing, his mood obviously much improved. “I won’t do any flip turns off the ends of the pool.”
“Wise decision.”
They shared a laugh as Trevor gave a light kick to ripple the water around her. Smiling up at him, she resisted the impulse to splash him back, though his grin let her know he was aware of her temptation.
“Do you want a lemonade, Mr. Trevor?” Bella asked, interrupting the cozy exchange as she approached with a glass she carried carefully in both hands for him.
Drawing his gaze from Jade, he turned to accept the glass with thanks, probably more to be nice to Bella than because he wanted the lemonade. And then he patted the tile beside him as he smiled up at the child. “Want to sit here beside me and put your feet in the water?”
Bella backed a half step away. “I don’t like to swim.”
“I wasn’t suggesting you put your whole body in,” he countered. “Just your feet. Like this.”
Holding his injured right leg still, he kicked lightly with his left foot, making the water splash. “Feels good.”
He took a sip of his drink then, looking unconcerned about whether Bella chose to accept his invitation. Seemingly emboldened by the lack of pressure, the child settled cautiously at his left side and let her feet dangle into the water. Trevor kicked up another spray, making her giggle softly and imitate him. He kicked again, and some of the water splashed on Jade this time, which led to both Trevor and Bella kicking more enthusiastically to make sure they showered her.
Laughing, she swung a hand to splatter them back, making sure most of the spray hit Trevor. Bella blinked, as if trying to decide whether to protest, then grinned and kicked more vigorously with Trevor’s encouragement. Jade noted in satisfaction that Bella seemed hardly aware that she was getting liberally splashed now. In fact, the child squealed in delight.
“Mom, you should come see this. It’s so cool!”
Looking around in response to the hail, Jade saw Erin sticking her head out from behind the waterfall. “On my way,” she called back. “Bella, do you want to go with me to see the grotto? We can put your floaties on, if you want, so you won’t go under the water.”
Bella looked tempted for a moment as she gazed toward the waterfall, but then she shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“How about if your mom and I both take you?” Trevor suggested. “Between the two of us, you’d barely be in the water. The grotto’s worth the trip, I promise. One of my young visitors told me it was like a fairy cave.”
Bella’s lower lip quivered. She wanted to see the cave, Jade interpreted, but was afraid.
Trevor slid into the pool and held out his arms to the child. “C’mon, Little Bit. Anyone who can do three cartwheels surely isn’t afraid of a little water.”
Bella scooted back rapidly, looking very close to tears now. “No. I don’t want to.”
“It’s okay, Bella, you don’t have to this time,” Jade said quickly. She needed to make it clear to Trevor that she didn’t want Bella pressured or embarrassed by her fear. “Maybe another day before we move into our house. But only if you want to.”
Catching on quickly, Trevor smiled at the child, though Jade wondered if she detected just a touch of disapproval in his expression. Did he think she should have pushed the child harder to overcome her fear—or was Jade merely being overly defensive? Either way, decisions like that were hers to make, she told herself firmly. She’d been doing just fine on her own, and she needed no advice from an overconfident bachelor.
“It’s fine, kiddo,” Trevor said, and there were no such thoughts mirrored in his tone. “Maybe you’d like to play in that patch of grass over there? You can practice your cartwheels or look for ladybugs.”
Looking relieved, Bella jumped to her feet and rushed away from the pool.
Jade had probably overreacted to the very brief exchange. Was she a little worried that Bella seemed so enamored with Trevor? She didn’t think that was an unfounded concern. Bella had recently seemed very aware of the lack of a father in her life, maybe from observations of friends who lived with two parents. Jade didn’t want her most emotionally vulnerable child to weave unrealistic fantasies that would only leave her disappointed.
Trevor looked at Jade, his expression somber. “She’s really afraid of the water, huh?”
Trying to put her possibly overblown misgivings from her mind, Jade nodded. “She is. I considered enrolling her in swim classes, thinking it might help, but the very suggestion upset her so much I didn’t have the heart to make her go. I thought maybe I’d try again next summer.”
“Your other two certainly aren’t afraid,” he observed, watching Caleb and Erin frolicking in the waterfall. “They swim like dolphins.”
“Yes, well, that’s because their father had them in the water as soon as they could walk.” Jade pushed a drying strand of hair from her eyes and glanced around at the kids. “Both of them could swim well before they were Bella’s age. She wasn’t quite a year old when he died, so he never got to spend time with her. I guess I fell down on the swimming training with her. Stephen was the athlete in the family, while I’m more the bookworm. It’s been a challenge to fill both roles since.”
“As busy as you are now, I’m sure you had your hands even more full for a while after he died,” Trevor replied.
