Bespoken: An Opposites-Attract Standalone Romance (Carmel Cove Book 2) Page 16

  Every weight on my mind that I’d come here with evaporated. The incident with Riggs Mulroney. Working at Roasters. Applying for school. It was all washed away by the comments I’d overheard.

  “What’s in two more weeks?” I refused to ignore it as easily—or as docilely—as they had.

  “Oh, nothing, darling—”

  “No, not nothing,” I cut her off, earning myself a shocked and outraged stare; ladies didn’t interrupt. “I heard what you said. What’s in two weeks, Mama?” I turned to my father. “What’s in two weeks that needs to go as promised?”

  While her glare whipped to my father, like my outburst was solely a result of his sudden leniency, his narrowed on her like I was her daughter and she was responsible for diffusing this situation.

  “We just…” She forced a smile to her lips. “We just have some very important people coming. I don’t think you realize how important they are… or how important it is that everything go well during their visit and, of course, at the Snow Ball held in their honor.” She reached out and lightly squeezed my shoulder. “You’ve just been through a lot, and I worry your father’s decision to let you cavort downtown is going to impact the woman we really need you to be right now, Julia.”

  I felt like I was standing at the edge of the ocean. One moment, I saw and felt my parents pulling away from me, their actions leaving me stranded on the shore wondering if the feel of the water had ever been real. And the next, their explanations and anxious insistence flowed back over me with an unspoken request to forgive them during this stressful time, especially when they made it seem like my actions were only making their anxiety worse.

  “Who are these people? Why are you so concerned?” I asked, toning my voice down as I added a bit more calmly. “Who could possibly be that important? The President?”

  My mother’s lip quivered violently, looking to my father once again, before waving her hand in front of her face and sputtering, “We’re considering selling the resort.”

  “W-What?” I stammered, looking between them. My mouth parted, air growing harder and harder to come by.

  Rock Beach was everything to my parents. Never in a million years would I dream they would consider selling it. It was hard to imagine them passing it down to me even though that was the natural assumption since they wouldn’t be able to run it forever.

  “We aren’t selling. Your mother is being dramatic.” My father’s monotone announcement came from behind the desk.

  My mother gasped. It was the first time I’d ever seen her composure falter. Not even when her brother nor her father died had she seemed so off-put.

  “There’s a group looking to become investors… shareholders. Possibly majority shareholders in the business, that’s all,” my father continued gruffly, resenting having to share this information. “What your mother is trying to say is that we need to impress them with our finest. And you are part of our finest.”

  I winced. An older part of me would’ve taken that at face value as a compliment. But now, all I could hear was my father equating me to nothing more than… a piece of fine china.

  I couldn’t tell them about Riggs.

  The thought came like a card flipped face up in front of me.

  I couldn’t tell them because in the twisted pit of my stomach, I knew they’d beg me—and then command me—not to say anything. Because having guests charged with assault showcases faults, and not our finest.

  Swallowing carefully, I move past that sobering thought and murmured, “I always thought you wanted me to…” I didn’t even know how to finish.

  Take over Rock Beach?

  Run the resort?

  Wasn’t that everything you’ve been training me for my entire life?

  “Oh, of course, you will still be an integral part, darling,” my mother assured me. “You’re a Vandelsen, after all. This is just going to allow us to grow in new ways.”

  She smiled at me even though her eyes flicked briefly to my father.

  This moment was important.

  If I’d ever believed that being the heiress and future owner of the resort was what I wanted, this was the moment to stand and fight for it—to demand my future and my stake in the business be consulted and not ‘kept docile’ until it was all said and done.

  Now was that moment. But I was no longer that girl. I was never that girl.

  If my parents wanted to invite another company to take part in our business, I wasn’t going to push back. I wanted to see Rock Beach succeed. Unfortunately, it had never been my dream to be a part of that success.

  But I could see this for the opportunity it was—for everyone involved.

  My parents would achieve their goals, and me taking time for my dreams wouldn’t conflict with them.

  “I didn’t realize… what was going on,” I began slowly, afraid to trust in the shift in weight on my shoulders. “I don’t want you to worry.” My voice firmed as I continued, “If you think this is what is best, I will absolutely do everything in my power to help.”

  Everything except let Riggs walk away from his actions without consequences.

  My father remained stoic, as was his norm, but my mother heaved a sigh and clutched her hands to her chest in relief.

  “Well, that is so wonderful, darling. I can’t tell you how important it is that you are completely on board with this and whatever it requires.” She fanned herself in relief. “But that is why we wanted to talk to you this morning. To remind you of your duties here and the image you have to uphold because there is a lot riding on it, especially once our new business partners arrive.”

  “I see,” I murmured, discomfort setting in.

  We both turned as my father cleared his throat. “Dominic Couronne and his associates will be here on Monday. We’ll be hosting a special luncheon and closing the entire clubhouse.”

  I blinked.

  The last time the clubhouse had closed was when a sitting president had come to stay.

  “And, as I mentioned, the Snow Ball in two weeks will be entirely in their honor and when we hope to announce our… partnership,” my mother continued, giving me a pointed look. “We will need you at your very best, Julia.”

  “Of course,” I agreed with a smile. “Anything for Rock Beach.”

  Anything to loosen its claim to my future.

  There were so many questions I had, but none of them seemed to matter in the face of the fact that my parents had just given me an opportunity to let myself out of the life I’d been locked into.

  If I could play my part of the perfect princess and convince these investors that Rock Beach was everything and more, they could take over my role here and alleviate my guilt over walking away.

  “Jules!”

  Laurel rushed me as soon as I opened the door to Roasters, crashing us both back into the doorframe as she hugged me tight, her shoulders shaking against me.

  “I can’t believe what happened. I just—” She pulled back and clasped my face, looking into my eyes like she was checking all the corners of my brain to make sure I was okay.

  “It’s fine—I mean, I’m fine,” I attempted to placate her, seeing the bags underneath her eyes and hating knowing I was the cause of them.

  “I can’t believe that piece of shit,” she huffed and pulled me against her once more. “I was so worried all night. So worried…”

  My cousin had dealt with a lot of loss in her life—more than the average person her age—and it had taken a toll. We lost our grandmother just before high school started. Then, my parents had put me in boarding school, and I hadn’t even gotten the chance to say goodbye. Then, her parents both died in a freak boating accident before graduation. In four short years, Laurel had lost four of the people who’d been closest to her.

  “Laurel—”

  I looked up from the hug to see Eli walk into the room, not realizing I’d come in.

  “Oh, sorry,” he murmured and gave me a kind smile that wordlessly conveyed his relief of my being okay bef
ore returning to the back.

  “I’m okay,” I promised her again, teasing lightly. “You should know by now it’s not that easy to take me down.”

  I shouldn’t make light of the fact I was kidnapped and almost killed about a month ago. I shouldn’t because it had almost been one more loss for Laurel to bear.

  She grumbled, pulling back with an unstoppable laugh and wiping the tears from her face. “Especially not with Mick around.”

  She pulled her strawberry-red hair out of its ponytail only to retie it back up more securely.

  “How did you know it was Mick?”

  She started for a moment, tipping her head to the side as if she’d realized what she’d just said.

  “He was in this morning… for coffee… and he told me the truth,” she confessed quietly. “And asked if I’d talked to you.”

  My chest tightened. “Oh.”

  “Okay, I asked him what happened since he was there, and I still hadn’t heard from you,” she continued, leading me back toward the counter. “I mean, I heard from Eve last night and, even though she told me everything was fine and Mick had taken you home, I still needed more confirmation.”

  I smiled briefly. “I’m okay, and I’m grateful he came outside when he did.”

  Her eyes drifted to my neck. Now there was nothing but makeup concealing the bruises on my skin. “I want to hear from you what happened.”

  She reached out and gave my arm a squeeze. In many ways, Laurel and I were the only family each of us had left, so the next few minutes found me unloading the events of the previous night from the second I stepped outside the bar to the one when I climbed out of the maintenance truck, my heart feeling as bruised as my body from how Mick had pulled away.

  “That reminds me of how Eli tried to stay away after Pap died because he thought he was taking advantage of me,” Laurel admitted with a half-smile, firing up the espresso machine and reaching for two mugs. “Men can be so dumb.”

  I laughed softly. “There’s just something between us that I can’t explain…but also something I feel like I’m missing.”

  Laurel started. “Missing?”

  “I don’t know what it is.” My brow scrunched. “Just this piece that keeps him pulling away out of more than just misplaced chivalry.”

  When a few seconds passed with no response, I turned to my cousin. “Laurel?”

  Snapping out of her daze, she blurted out, “Sorry.” She reached for the jug of milk, handing it to me so I could pour some into the aluminum cup to steam. “I want to hear more about Mick, but I have to know… did you tell your parents about Riggs? All I keep thinking is that he’s going to be back on that resort with you at some point.”

  I dumped some fresh beans into the hopper and started the grinder. “I saw them this morning. They told me they are selling part of the resort.”

  Her body froze, bright blue eyes locked on me and wide with shock.

  “I know,” I told her, agreeing with her stupefied expression.

  “That can’t be right. I just can’t…” She propped her elbow on the top of the machine and rested her head on her hand. “Seriously?”

  I kept nodding as I took over as barista. “They’re thinking of taking on investors as partners.”

  “So, you won’t be…”

  I shook my head, answering, “I won’t be the only one responsible.”

  “That’s wonderful, Jules. Really, really wonderful.” She beamed.

  “It’s not finalized, so there aren’t any details, but I’m so relieved,” I repeated, unable to get enough of the word. “I couldn’t believe it. With everything going on, I wasn’t expecting news like that, but they’re moving forward with it—and soon. I just can’t tell you—” I broke off, surprised by the sudden rush of tears and thickening in my throat. “I just never wanted to let them down, you know? They did so much for me, even if it’s not everything I wanted; I know I’m more than lucky to have grown up the way that I have. I never wanted to seem ungrateful by throwing it back in their face.”

  I glanced over to my cousin, thinking I might have rambled a bit too quickly.

  Laurel reached for my shoulder and squeezed encouragingly. “You aren’t, and they’ll see that.”

  My chin dipped. I wasn’t quite sure she believed that.

  “Wait? What’s wrong? Isn’t this a good thing?”

  “It is…” I grabbed the carton of milk and poured some into the aluminum cup to steam, relaying the thoughts that collected in my mind on the drive down here. “I just hope what I have to do doesn’t ruin it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t think I’m the first one, Laurel,” I confided to her. “I don’t think I’m the first woman Riggs assaulted.” Her eyes turned into saucers. “So, I’m going to report him and get a restraining order.”

  “And you didn’t tell your parents…” she deduced.

  “The investors are arriving in a few days and my parents are really stressed about making everything perfect—more than I’ve ever seen them before—and now, I’m worried if this gets back to them, it will ruin their partnership.”

  “And it will ruin your chance to step away from Rock Beach without friction,” she finished quietly, realizing my dilemma.

  I blinked rapidly, feeling the tears begin to well again.

  “I know I could stay silent,” I told her. “I know what Mick did was enough of a punishment for me, but I think about all the other women he might’ve done this to—women who worked at my home…vwomen we should’ve been responsible for and protecting.”

  “Oh, Jules.” The machine rumbled as it began to brew our espresso.

  “That’s why I didn’t tell my parents when I saw them this morning,” I confessed. “I knew if I did, I didn’t trust myself to withstand their guilt. I didn’t trust myself to not fall back into everything I’ve ever been taught—that the resort is the most important—only important—thing.”

  “Hey.” She gave me a little shake. “You should trust yourself. You would’ve done the right thing, Jules. You might want to make your parents happy, but not at the expense of someone else.”

  The whistle of the machine interrupted us, and I steamed the milk for several seconds before admitting, “Or maybe I just couldn’t bear to hear them try to convince me to not do what needed to be done.” My voice was quiet and hollow, the real pain showing through. “I want to believe that, at some point, there’s a line for them—a limit to who and what they’re willing to sacrifice for their business. But I’m scared it doesn’t exist.”

  Even though I’d been breaking away from the path they’d laid for me, this was the first time I’d ever admitted to my fear that no heart existed under their stone-cold ambition.

  “What if they’re not the people I thought they were?”

  I wasn’t really asking her.

  Riggs’ assault made me question the people I thought I knew—and what I believed about them.

  “You aren’t responsible for them, Jules. All that matters is that you are who you want to be,” she murmured. “And I will always be here for you.”

  “Thank you.” I sighed, glancing at the clock. “I should get going. I called Gwen on my way over here and told her I’d meet her at the hospital at the start of her shift so she can take photos and document my injuries. And then, I’m going down to the station.”

  Before I could stop her, Laurel dumped the espresso shots into two travel mugs, declaring as she reached for the steamed milk, “I’m coming with you.”

  My mouth fell. “You don’t have to do that. I can go on my own, it’s—” I broke off as she yelled into the back, asking Eli to cover the front until Eve got there.

  “I know you can do it on your own.” She smiled at me. “But friends… family… we’re here so you don’t have to.”

  My lips tightened, and I fought back tears.

  “Plus, I want to hear more about what happened with Mick.”

  Jules

  I
knocked on Gwen’s door again, even though it was obvious by Oscar’s incessant yapping from the other side that she wasn’t home yet.

  She’d told me to head over at seven-thirty when Laurel and I were at the hospital yesterday so we could go through and submit my application; in the middle of everything, I’d almost forgotten tonight was the night I was going to apply for college.

  I was still in my blouse and jeans from this afternoon, not having time to change since it took us longer down at the police station than I’d anticipated.

  According to Officer Hontz, one of the policemen who’d reported to the Pub on Friday, Riggs had spent the rest of the evening passed out in the hospital, nursing a broken nose and a severely bruised and swollen face, before he’d apparently headed back to San Francisco. When we finished with my statement and the photos, he told me they’d work with San Francisco PD to track Riggs down and deliver the PFA within the week.

  Riggs Mulroney might be family to a congressman, but it seemed the Vandelsen name still carried some weight in Carmel, at least. Then again, it was hard to argue with the handprint of bruises around my neck.

  The whole day was exhausting. Dealing with my parents’ news. Going to the hospital. Reliving the scene from the Pub. It had all taken its toll, and last night, I’d barely made it into bed before my eyes shut and I was dreaming of Mick’s kiss, and all the questions it left unanswered.

  As if conjured by my thoughts, Mick’s door swung open and I jumped back as his solid presence filled the hall.

  “Jules.” His eyes flared with desire, the embers of last night easily reignited in their depths.

  “Hi,” I greeted him on an exhale.

  My tongue dragged over my lips. I’d prepared to do a lot of things today, but confronting the man who’d hurt my heart by being too good wasn’t one of them.

  “How are you doin’?” he drawled, his voice warming me in ways I doubted would ever stop.

  “I’m alright.” My chin dipped. “I… umm… filed my report with the police yesterday. They told me he went back to San Francisco, but if he does decide to come back, he won’t be able to be near me.” He hadn’t asked, but I found myself needing to tell him.