Rich in Faith (Richness in Faith, Book 3) (15 page)

MISGIVINGS

I DON’T KNOW WHAT I was picturing when I imagined Court in swimming attire, but I couldn’t imagine and picture anything close to how he looks.

Trim, fit, a little base tan.

Whoo. My suit looks okay, but my body is pale.

“I like the suit,” he says as he retrieves a couple of balls out of a storage area next to the pool. I would bet money his mouth opened a little too far when he saw me.

And my money would be on the fact that my ghost-like appearance has caused his jaw to drop.

He tosses the beach balls into the pool and walks toward me. When he reaches me he runs his index finger down my arm. “I like your skin. It’s soft. Beautiful. I see why you don’t get in the sun.”

“I’m not a sun hater. I love being in the sun. It’s just working six or seven days a week from sunup until sundown doesn’t give a girl much chance to play.”

“Come here. Have a seat.”

We walk to one of the lounge chairs. I sit next to him, loving the warm feel of the sun on my skin.

Court grabs a bottle of the sunscreen he bought. I hold out my hand and he shakes his head. “My turn.”

As he squeezes the coconut smelling lotion on his hand, I breathe with anticipation of his touch. He starts on my shoulders and back. While the lotion is cool, it doesn’t stay that way long as his strong hand rubs my skin gently.

“So, why’d you work so hard all the time? Pretty lady like you should have been out having fun.”

This is where I have to be careful. I don’t want to say too much, yet too little can arouse one’s suspicions just as much. “I was with a start-up company. And you know how business is. It takes hard work to make it in these times.”

“Was it your company?”

“No.”

“According to Barb your whole situation was tough. I know you had a vested interest. I wish I could say I was sorry it didn’t work out. But I’m not. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”

His warm touch doesn’t stop the chills forming on my arms at his words. Court is smart. It’s not surprising, but this isn’t the conversation I expected we’d have at the pool. I don’t want to talk about Dale and the broken engagement. I don’t want that to ever enter my world here.

“It’s the guy Barb told me about, isn’t it?”

I knew he would put it together. “Yes.”

“That’s a bad scene. I think I’m headed for something like that at TAG.”

I know he just said something about his work, but he’s worked his way to my arms, and I’m determined he’s not touching my legs. “As much as I like your touch, I’ll handle below the belt line.”

He laughs and squirts some lotion onto my open palm.

“I think Jared’s embezzling.”

I stop rubbing and look at him. “Jared?”

He sets the bottle down, and I quickly smooth the rest of the lotion onto my legs, not caring if I miss spots.

“Yes. I don’t want to believe it, but all signs are pointing to him.”

“Could someone be setting him up?”

“I’m looking into it. It’s just that Jared doesn’t have the best track record with me, so that makes it harder. He’s taken things that belong to me before.”

“Yet he’s still your best friend?”

“Yes. He’s had his problems in the past, but I thought they were resolved. Now with all these money issues he’s having, I’m afraid he’s taken a route he didn’t intend to take. He probably felt trapped.”

I scan the parameter of the house. Mansion. “Couldn’t he have come to you if he needed money?”

“Yes. He could have, but he won’t. He never has. He’s always done things on the sly, but I always find out about them. You’d think after all these years he would have learned that these things catch up to you eventually.”

“Do you have proof?”

It seems such a shame to be wasting a great new suit on a conversation about embezzlement.

“I’m working on it.”

I study my fingernails. I know what betrayal from someone close feels like. Dale’s betrayal was different, but it was still betrayal.

“You’re the first person I feel like I can talk to about this.” His hand brushes my arm. “About anything. Everything.”

I feel a kiss coming on, so I turn and face Court. His lips meet mine before I can breathe.

I try to keep my mind off Court’s Jared confession as we toss the beach ball around in the pool. We’ve laid out, put more lotion on each other, stolen a couple of kisses and basically just played the afternoon away. Theresa said the girls would be home by four, which is in less than an hour.

“I need to go and shower before the girls come home.” I spike the ball once more Court’s way before walking up the pool steps.

“I’ll go with you.”

I turn toward him. Sure we’ve shared a few kisses, but that doesn’t mean we are sharing a shower. “I don’t think so.”

“I meant I’m going in, too. You go your way, I’ll go mine.”

Relief runs through me. I would hate to turn this man down for anything, yet I would be turning him down.

I’ve just finished drying my hair when I hear the girls coming through the front door. I head that way, and it doesn’t take me long to find them.

“We had so much fun, Shelby.” They wrap their arms around me, hugging me tightly.

I embrace them. “That’s great. You got along good with Phoebe?”

“She’s a lot of fun. Even if she can’t see. She’s going to be our best friend. We asked her if she wanted to come spend the night one night, and she said yes. So you have to talk to her mother.”

“I will. You guys had a busy day. And you have another one tomorrow.”

They hand me a plastic bag. “Here’re our bathing suits. They’re all wet.”

“That’s okay. I’ll hang them up with mine in my bathroom.”

The look on Team Twin’s face can only be described as confused. “You went swimming today?”

I realize they don’t know their father is home. They have no idea I’ve been frolicking in the pool with their dad all afternoon. Kissing their dad.

My face is turning red, and I’m sure they’re going to notice. Team Twin doesn’t miss much.

“I may have taken a little break and went in the pool for a swim. Is that okay?”

Like I need their permission. The question is more rhetorical, but they don’t know that.

“Sure. I guess,” Bristol says. “Why don’t you go swimming with us?”

I can’t reveal I didn’t even have a bathing suit until late this morning when their father insisted I buy one. “There hasn’t been a whole lot of time for swimming. But maybe we’ll have more time now.”

“Girls.”

At the sound of Court’s voice, Team Twin ditches me and runs to Court. He picks them both up in hug and kisses them each on the cheek before setting them back down.

“What are you doing here, Daddy? It’s daytime. It’s not even dinnertime yet.”

“I decided I was working too hard and wanted to come home and surprise my girls. Did you have fun?”

“We did.” Team Twin spends the next few minutes telling Court about Bible school, then swimming with Phoebe. “And, we even asked her if she wanted to spend the night with us. Can she soon, please?”

“Of course she can. We’ll arrange it.”

“Yeah!”

Bristol and Darling high five each other.

“Where would you girls like to go for dinner?” he asks, looking them, then at me.

“FunTime Burgers. Can we please?” Bristol hugs Darling after she asks.

“I don’t see why not,” Court says. “Shelby, is that okay with you?”

I look down at the girls and see the dejected look on their face. It only lasts a couple of seconds, but it was there. They thought they were having a night out with their dad.

Court is only looking at me.

“You know,” I start. “I think I’ll pass. I’m feeling tired after my day, and I’m going to lie down. You guys go and have fun.”

Now I have to face the dejected look on Court’s face.

“Come on, Shelby. It’ll be fun.”

Team Twin is staring at me. Not giving in one way or another. No smiles, no frowns. Just straight-line lips and flat eyes.

“Maybe next time.”

Before Court can respond, I walk to my room and shut the door. I lean against it and am surprised that I’m blinking back tears. Tears for what?

Court and I aren’t an item. We’re a summer kissing fling while it lasts. He’s got too many issues to contend with right now, and he doesn’t even know who I am.

Not his fault, I know, but it’s still a fact.

A soft knock raps on my door. I can tell by the height of the knock it’s Court and not Bristol or Darling.

I take in a deep breath, and push back those threatening tears of self-pity. Turning, I open the door barely a crack. “Yes?”

I try to make my voice playful.

“Can I come in for a minute?”

Even though I knew he was going to ask, I don’t have a good reason why he can’t. So I let him in.

He pushes the door shut. “I’m confused here. I see through your act, I just don’t know why you said you were tired.”

For once I need to be honest. “When you asked me about going, I saw some disappointment in the girls. They thought they were going to have you to themselves for an evening.”

He straightens. “Are you sure you aren’t seeing things? The girls love having you around.”

“I agree. They do like me, but they need to spend some time with you. Just you.”

He runs his hand through his hair. “As much as I don’t like it, I’ll go along with you for tonight. But just tonight. They have to learn to share me sometime.”

Share you with who, I want to ask. That random somebody who will come into his life one day? “They will. It’s a process.”

He kisses me quickly on the nose. “Thank you.”

As he leaves the room sadness falls on me again. But I need to become used to it. Everything here is temporary.

Everything.

I DIG THROUGH THE freezer and find a tub of ice cream. Chocolate, my favorite. I locate an ice cream scoop and scoop a nice portion into a bowl. I barely take two bites when the doorbell rings.

Court and the girls have only been gone about thirty minutes, so I’m sure it’s not them. Not that they would use the front door anyway.

I look through the peep hole and my stomach sinks.

Jared.

Jared who is possibly embezzling from his best friend and has a track record of other issues which Court has forgiven.

Yet still trusts him with his business.

I don’t get it.

Opening the door I paste a smile on my face. “Hello.”

“Hi,” he says, gently pushing his way into the house. “How’s the most beautiful girl in the world tonight?”

“I’m not sure. Why don’t you find her and ask her? Your flattery is unbelievable at times.” I speak my words lightly and with a smile, but I think he knows I’m serious.

“It’s all about perception, Shelby. And right now I perceive you to be that girl. Take a compliment. Say thank you.”

I find myself almost taken in by his playful tone, good looks and easy demeanor. He walks into a place and it’s instantly a party-type atmosphere.

We head into the kitchen. He spies my bowl of ice cream. “Dessert?”

“Dinner.” I instantly regret my words.

Instantly.

Because I know how this man thinks. In less than a few seconds he will ask me out to dinner.

Which I will refuse.

“Come on. A pretty gal like you shouldn’t be eating alone. Let me take you out.”

I so know his type.

And if my mind wasn’t burning with the visions of Court Treyhune I might consider.

Oh, and if Jared wasn’t an embezzler.

I wonder if I can help Court. Maybe I can pick Jared’s brain and see what he’s really up to?

Maybe dinner isn’t such a bad idea?

“You’ve convinced me.” I put the bowl of ice cream in the freezer, spoon and all. “Let me grab my purse and we can leave.”

Jared has such an I’ve-won expression on his face.

If he only knew.

MANIPULATE

JARED TAKES ME to an upscale bistro not far from Court’s house.

I wonder who is going to pay.

There are no prices on the menu, it’s in French, and after I order I wonder what I’m going to be eating. It should be interesting.

Having no idea the easiest way to ask a man if he’s an embezzler, I let the conversation flow naturally, but I listen for an opening that might segue into me learning something that could help Court.

The man I’d rather be out to dinner with.

“I think it’s cool that you and Court have been friends for so long.” Maybe digging into the past will reveal useful information.

“Since we were kids. Playing in the dirt and driving go-karts. That’s how we spent our days.”

“Did you ever race?”

It’s a good thing I was staring at him or I would have missed that look that flashed in his eyes. Resentment? Regret? It was hard to tell, but it wasn’t good.

“No. Although I will say I was pretty good at it. Beat Court four out of five times when we raced those go-karts. Never had the money to go into it, though. It’s not a cheap sport. And you have to know the right people.”

I raise my eyebrows. “You certainly knew the right people.”

He twists his wine glass stem, swirling his wine. “I did. But Court was good, too.”

What he doesn’t say is sinking in. “So Court got the chance to drive, and you didn’t.”

He shrugs. “Court was Cal’s son. Of course they were going to give him the ride. I never expected anything else.”

Does he mean the words he’s speaking? He sounds sincere, but I have the feeling Jared James can sound however he wants.

He’s that kind of guy.

Our salads arrive and I find that I’ve ordered one I like. The dressing is sweet and sour, reminding me of the man I’m dining with. Our conversation slows while we eat, and I try to study Jared. He garners looks from every female, but I’m sure he’s used to that. I wonder at the ladies he dates? Do they ever become used to their date being the recipient of such looks?

I’m sure the girls that date Court have the same issue. Except Court seems more attentive.

Sincerely attentive.

Jared can appear to be attentive.

I really want to ask about his relationship with MaryLeigh. Although that has nothing to do with the embezzling aspect, it’s still a part of his relationship with Court. A part Jared felt like he needed to hide for some reason.

And if Jared and Court were such close childhood friends, how is it that Court didn’t know MaryLeigh?

This whole triangle is a mystery.

“How did you end up being a nanny?” Jared asks.

I put my fork down. “You ask that question like I’ve got the plague.”

He chuckles. “I’m sorry if it came out like that. Like I said when I first met you don’t really seem like nanny material.”

Did he just diss me? “I’m not sure what you consider nanny material, but I’m a pretty good one,” I say with as much authority as one can use after being a nanny for a short time.

“You take offense for no reason. I think nanny, I think old lady. That’s all.”

“You need to think again and quit stereotyping.” How did the conversation become about me. This is not the way the evening is supposed to be going.

“Believe me, after tonight I will.” He winks at me which chills me more than thrills me.

The waiter whisks away our salad plates and in moments our entrees are set before us. My blackened tuna looks good and smells good.

I hope it tastes good.

After one bite I think I might be in heaven.

The tuna takes my mind off the reason I am here. I savor a couple more succulent bites before reeling my mind back to the task at hand.

“There are a couple of people from my childhood that I wish I would have stayed in touch with. You and Court are lucky to have all that history.”

Jared takes another sip of his wine. “We are. It’s good to know you have a friend that has your back, you know. Through thick and thin as they say.”

According to Court there have been a lot of thin times. “Have you guys ever had a falling out?”

Jared’s fork halts slightly before resuming its course to his mouth. He chews slowly, thoughtfully probably, before answering. “A couple.”

“I bet they were about girls, huh. That’s what most guys fight about.”

He sets his fork on his plate and wipes his mouth. “You know, if I knew you were going to talk about Court all night, I might have rescinded my invitation.”

My face heats at his words. Then I realize this might be a good thing. I didn’t want him noticing that I was trying to glean information out of him about him. He thinks I want information about Court.

Maybe I can manipulate this situation to my favor. Although we aren’t anywhere near talking about how or why he would be embezzling. But maybe there are underlying issues that would lead to that information if I can find them out.

I smile what I think is my best smile and try to defuse any suspicions Jared might be having. “I’m sorry. I’m curious about him, that’s all. I didn’t realize that would bother somebody like you.”

“Somebody like me?”

“Yes. Smart, too good looking for their own good, every woman’s dream date.”

With each compliment he puffs up more and more until his smile is wide. He couldn’t be sitting any straighter in his chair. “Court’s a good guy. I didn’t mean to sound jealous or anything. And I need to remember, you’re his nanny. Not his girlfriend.”

Kisses in the sun, hands rubbing coconut-scented lotion on my body bring Court into my mind. Not that he ever left. But Jared is right.

I’m not his girlfriend.

I’m only his nanny.

Whose job will be done in a couple of months.

But I still can’t make myself interested in Jared in the way he wants me to be interested. Especially with the dark clouds of mistrust surrounding him.

We finish eating in silence and when the waitress brings the bill, Jared whips out his card.

I wonder if it will go through.

When the waitress returns, all smiles and flirty, I know the card went through and now she’s vying for a big tip.

If her tip is half as big and flamboyant as his signature, she should be very happy.

I’m simply happy the card went through and I don’t have to pay.

I KEPT A CLOSE EYE on my watch, but still arrived home later than I wanted to. I knew Court would already be back with the girls, and I’m not sure how the fact that I was out with Jared will go over.

Until I get Court alone and explain, things will be awkward.

Awkward and hostile, it turns out.

I thought I’d seen Court’s eyes hard and dark before, but I’d never seen anything like his eyes when I walked in with Jared.

As soon as I hit the kitchen, Court is on his way to me, only to stop short when Jared appears.

His gaze speaks a million words, none of which I want to be the recipient of. I try to converse back with mine, but his gaze shifts to Jared at this point.

Daggers. That word describes the look Court is giving him.

Jared backs up a couple of steps, hands in the air. “Hey. Don’t shoot. I just took your nanny out for dinner. She’s fine.”

I look at Court, trying convey with my eyes what I can’t with my words. “Sorry I didn’t leave a note or anything. I thought I’d be back before you and the girls came home.”

“I guess I distracted her. Made her forget about the time.” Jared places his hand on my shoulder and I stop short of cringing. This situation is way out of control.

What led me to believe I could control it in the first place?

Certainly I don’t have the best track record with men, so managing two of them, especially two of them that harbor their own dangerous level of hostility toward each other, is no doubt a crazy idea.

Two steps. That’s how far away Court is physically, but I can see we are emotionally further apart. Since Jared is behind me a little, and I have Court’s attention, I bravely mouth the words, “I can explain.”

His eyes soften slightly, but only slightly. They almost seem to say “I’m not sure any explanation will suffice.”

Unlike the other night where Court said nothing to Jared about leaving, tonight he’s taking another route.

“Since it’s after ten, the girls are asleep,” Court says. “Which is a perfect time to go over some things with Shelby.”

Court starts walking to the foyer, and Jared gets the picture that he’s being asked to leave.

“Until Friday night,” he says to me, winking. “I’m looking forward to it.”

His expression begs a similar response, but I can’t. The playful act I used earlier won’t fly now. “I’ll see you then.”

He looks a little hurt but doesn’t say anything. As soon as the door shuts, Court twists the lock and turns to me.

“I thought you might have gone for a run. Did you even look at your phone? I called. I was worried.”

I swallow hard. Not expecting any calls, my phone still lies buried in my purse. “I didn’t look at my phone. But I can explain.”

Court leans against the heavy, ornate door. “It was like a knife plunged into my heart when I saw you walk in with him.”

My knees threaten to buckle at his words. What has taken place that these strong words come out of his mouth? “I can explain. It is not what you’re thinking.”

He shakes his head and pushes off the door. “Funny. Those are the same words MaryLeigh spoke.”