Beauty and the Beach (22 page)

Rebecca placed a hand over hers. “No, it doesn’t. If I’ve learned anything from this whole beauty rigmarole it’s that life is simply a comedy of errors. Stupid, craptastic things happen all the time to everyone. When your turn comes up, you just roll with it and make the best of it. There’s really nothing else to do. And the sooner you see life is to be laughed through, the sooner life starts to be a whole lot more fun.”

“Do you think?”

“I know. Stupid things that seem really important at the moment just seem silly or at least bearable, given time. What are the chances of finding the necklace at this point?”

“That would pretty much solve everything, wouldn’t it?” said Izzy. “But I don’t think we're going to find it.”

“Don’t be so pessimistic. What will Adam do if it doesn’t turn up?”

“We offered to work it off as a family over the next few years and he seemed amenable to the idea.”

“Okay, then. That’s good. You have a plan. Life sucks sometimes, but then you move on.”

“But can you see me being his girlfriend and paying him a check every month?”

Rebecca looked at her with pity. “I see what you mean. That does put a damper on your relationship.”

Isabelle sighed. “Yeah, it really does.”

“Don’t give up yet. You’ll think of something. These things have a way of working themselves out.”

“I hope so. I really do.”

~~~

Adam heard a car and looked out the window to see Izzy and her girlfriend climb out of a limousine. Her dark-haired friend hugged her, and then got back inside the car. As the limo backed out of the driveway, Izzy waved until the vehicle swung around and drove out of sight.

When she started to turn around, Adam quickly sat down and got back to work. He didn’t want Izzy to think he was watching her--or trying to get a look at her friend, either. The thought of her possessiveness made him smile all over again.

He was fitting another small pearl inside a bracelet that would look wonderful on Izzy’s delicate wrist if he could ever find a way to get her to wear it. He laughed at himself. She’d become his inspiration and he basically thought everything he made would look good on her.

With his office door open, he could hear Isabelle coming upstairs. “Did you have fun with your friend?” he called out.

A moment later she came to a stop just inside his doorway and looked at him. She seemed a little sad as she studied him, but he must have been mistaken because a second later she smiled.

“It was fun. We had a great time. I loved seeing her again.”

He took in her blue eyes, flawless skin, and full lips that instantly reminded him of their kiss. Actually, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about kissing Izzy since he’d dropped her off, but he just said, “Oh, good. Do you want to come in and keep me company while I work?”

She shook her head. “I’m going to wash some laundry and then go to the beach. What time do you want me to start dinner?”

“Five o’clock or so?” He noticed she didn’t invite him to the beach or to help with the cooking and wondered if it was an oversight and if he should invite himself.

“Okay. See you later.”

Apparently it wasn’t an oversight. A few minutes later, he realized he was still holding the jeweler’s clamp in his hand, unmoving, as he worried about what the lack of invitation signified.

Did she regret kissing him? Was she unhappy living here with him? Had her friend said something to her?

He took a breath and acknowledged what he’d known from almost the first moment he’d met her. She was special to him. He’d met her, and that had pretty much been it for him. He’d schemed and pushed and considered how to get her to accept him into her life. When the opportunity had presented itself, he’d jumped at the chance to have her near him.

The bottom line was, now that he’d really had the chance to get to know her, he loved her. He was flat-out, head-over-heels, heart-fully-engaged, crazy in love with her.

He set everything down, and then sat back in his chair. He rubbed his face and let out a breath. Okay. There. He’d acknowledged it. He loved her. So having her around meant he was happy.

But he wanted her happy, too. And really, how could she be in these circumstances? Her father owing him money. His power to throw her father in jail, even if he’d assured her he wouldn’t. What had she said to him at the picnic? How she’d like it if they could meet again, with nothing between them?

He closed his eyes. What she’d meant was nothing ugly between them.

So now what did he do about it? Before any of this had happened, she’d agreed to date him. Had the chance to be together come and gone when her father had taken the necklace?

He considered the kiss. Her flushed reaction. She’d been breathless and had kissed him again, afterwards flashing him that heart-wrenching smile. She had to feel something for him, too, right?

But attraction aside, would she ever be able to see him as more than a debtor who needed paying off?

What he needed to do was excuse the debt. To keep Izzy, he’d do it in a heartbeat. But, of course, she wouldn’t let him do that, would she? She’d insist on paying him back. Her entire family would.

What if he signed a paper that promised he’d never prosecute over the necklace? That way, even if they did pay him back, she’d be free of any worry about her father being prosecuted, regardless of what happened between the two of them.

She would also be released from their agreement and could go home. With everything in him, he didn’t want to let her go. He wanted to lie, cheat, and steal to keep her.

Anyway, while it would relieve her mind, it wouldn’t change the fact that she’d still feel obligated to pay him back.

Maybe he could just make the deal with her father? He could forgive the debt and give her dad back his job if he still wanted it. He could insist he wouldn’t take any money. If he made her father accept it, then Izzy would have to, as well, wouldn’t she?

He sighed. Even if her father agreed, she wouldn’t. He knew her too well.

There had to be a way for them to start over. With a clean slate. So she could have the opportunity to want him or not on his own merits without the stolen necklace clouding the issue.

They needed to find that necklace.

He could make a new one, a voice whispered in his head. Lie, cheat, and then steal her heart. He could make a new one and then pretend it had been found. Then her family would be off the hook and he would have the chance to win her heart without any encumbrances between them.

He looked toward the doorway, suddenly afraid that if she saw his expression, she’d know what he was thinking.

It would take him a while to do it. It would take time to order the jewels and gems and gold. Which was fine with him. It would give him more time to win her before she left.

And she would leave him. His heart clenched.

But ultimately, if he really wanted a chance to win her, he’d have to let her go, anyway. But the thought of losing her, of going back to a house without her in it, already made him feel like he had a giant hole in his heart.

~~~

Izzy was putting some clothes into the washing machine and thinking about her earlier conversation with Becky. Having her friend point out that Isabelle’s feelings for Adam were plain for the world to see, had her examining said feelings. Did Adam know how she felt about him? Was she okay with him knowing? Wait. How exactly did she feel about him?

Her phone rang and she picked it up to see that Courtney was calling. “Hello?”

“Izzy, I just got a call from Rosie’s mom and she says Dad is acting insane and some of the neighbors are thinking about calling the police. Izzy, he fell out of a tree! What was he doing in a tree? I’m working my shift and if I leave I’ll get in trouble because we’re way understaffed today. Can you get over there? Then call me and tell me what the heck is going on?”

Izzy’s heart started pounding in her chest. “I’ll leave right now. I’ll let you know what’s happening.”

“I have your car,” Courtney said tearfully.

Izzy was already hurrying through the house. “I’ll ask Adam to drive me.”

Courtney sobbed again. “Do you think Dad’s drinking again? Is this my fault?”

“If he is, it’s not your fault. Don’t worry, just go back to work. I’ll take care of this and I’ll call you as soon as I can.”

Isabelle ran up the stairs and went directly into Adam’s office. Breathless, she said, “Adam, I need your help. Could you give me a ride to my dad’s place? Courtney just called, and apparently he’s acting strange.”

Adam was standing before she’d even finished speaking. “You bet.” Gratitude flooded her as he led her straight back down the stairs and out to his car. Within two minutes, they were on the road.

~~~

When they arrived at the apartment complex, Isabelle jumped out of the car and Adam quickly followed.

A crowd had gathered around a big eucalyptus tree and Isabelle’s father sat at the base, rocking slightly and holding his arm. Rosie was crying as her mother tried to comfort her.

Isabelle hurried forward and was intercepted when Rosie’s mother, Olivia, placed a hand on her shoulder. “Isabelle. I’m glad you’re here.” She lowered her voice. “Your father chased Rosie’s cat up the tree and then followed it. He was acting crazy and then he slipped and fell. He’s holding his arm, and we’ve asked him if he wants to go to the hospital, but he won’t leave the tree. He’s been ranting. Some of the other neighbors are threatening to call the police.”

“Thanks, Olivia.” Isabelle knelt beside her father. She placed a hand on his bent knee. “Dad, what’s going on?”

“Izzy.” He let out a pained sigh. “I’m glad you’re here.”

She leaned down and breathed in, trying to smell alcohol. “Have you been drinking?” She asked in a quiet whisper. She didn’t want to embarrass him in front of all their neighbors, but she needed to know what was going on. She glanced around, recognizing some of the faces, but not others, and the crowd seemed to be growing.

Dad jerked his knee away. “No. I haven’t been drinking. I have to get that cat.” He tilted his head to look up into the tree, and Izzy followed his gaze. Queenie, Rosie’s black-and-white cat, perched high among the leaves.

“Come on, Dad. Let’s go inside and we’ll talk about this, okay?”

“I’d have caught her, but I slipped on the bark and fell out of the tree.” He glared up at the cat.

Adam moved forward to stand beside Isabelle. “Thanks, everyone, for your concern. We’ll take it from here.” His confident, authoritative tone prompted the neighbors to give them some breathing room.

As the crowd started to disburse, Isabelle looked up at Adam, so grateful for his large, solid presence.

Olivia tried to draw Rosie away but the girl ran to the tree, threw her head back, and beseeched the cat. “Queenie, come down. I won’t let him hurt you.” She turned her head to glare at Isabelle’s father.

Isabelle didn’t dare grab her father’s arm until she knew the extent of the damage, so she held out a hand. “Come on, Dad.” She tried to urge him to his feet. “Let’s get out of here, okay?”

Dad looked her in the face. “Izzy, I was walking to our apartment when the cat streaked by.”

Isabelle was glad to see her father seemed clear-eyed and sober.

“It looked…” He glanced up at Adam and straightened his back. “It looked like she was wearing the Starfire.”

Isabelle looked at him with pity. “Dad, Rosie’s always dressing up her kitties. I’m sure it was just some costume jewelry. We need to get you to a doctor to see about your arm.”

Dad’s jaw jutted forward. “I’m not going anywhere until I get my hands on that cat.”

Big tears welled in Rosie’s eyes. “It’s my kitty, it’s my pretties,” she wailed.

Olivia stepped forward, looking between Isabelle and her father. “Rosie does have a lot of jewelry for her cats.”

Dad was shaking his head back and forth. “We have to get that cat before it gets away.”

Isabelle wanted to cry along with Rosie.

Adam sighed. “I’ll go up and get the cat and we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Isabelle straightened and turned to him. “Are you sure? I don’t want you hurting your leg. Maybe we should just wait it out.”

“Don’t worry about me. It looks like the cat’s stuck up there. I’ll get her down.”

She studied his handsome face for a long moment, feeling guilty for dragging him into yet another of their family dramas, yet so grateful he was there. “Thank you, so much.”

~~~

Adam climbed the tree, one branch at a time. The bark was slippery and tore easily, so he made sure his grip was firm before he pulled himself up. His knee, bending further than usual, started to ache like the devil, so it was slow going.

“Adam, are you okay?”

He looked down at Izzy’s worried face and smiled. “I’m fine.” He realized he liked playing the hero for her, liked that she was worried about him. While he wanted to rush up the tree and impress her with his strength and agility, he’d better keep going slowly or he’d fall and end up in the same situation as Stephen.