Four Short Weeks Read online

  “And that would be a bad thing, why?”

  A glint of deep longing settled in his coppery-brown eyes. And he kissed her again.

  Chapter 23

  Gary woke up early the next day and couldn’t put his finger on why he felt so off-kilter. Last night had been wonderful. He must have kissed Lillian a hundred times. Or a million. But still not enough.

  He padded into the kitchen and found Lucky sitting by his empty water bowl, giving him a look of disbelief. “Sorry, pup. I’ll fill it now.” He filled the water bowl, then the food bowl, then started his coffee.

  He took a cup to the table and flipped open his laptop. The date stared back at him.

  That’s why he felt so off today. It was Dale’s birthday. A day he’d sworn he’d never forget. He raked his hand through his hair, then buried his face in his hands, letting the pain wash over him in waves.

  Crashing over him.

  Drowning him.

  He didn’t deserve to have this newfound happiness with Lillian. He didn’t. Not after what had happened to Dale.

  He opened his browser and clicked on the news. Then sat his mug down on the table with a clatter, splashing droplets of coffee across the surface.

  There it was. Right there in print. In an ugly coincidence since it was Dale’s birthday today. The story had been revived in the national news and his picture was right there for everyone to see. Probably someone had gotten wind of the insurance settlement and stirred up the story yet again. He shut the laptop with a bit too much force and closed his eyes.

  It would only be a matter of time before everyone knew who he really was.

  A monster.

  A killer.

  It didn’t matter that a court case had said he was innocent. It was his responsibility. It was all his fault.

  He stood up slowly and sucked in air, but it didn’t seem to fill his lungs. A heaviness pressed down on him, smothering him, imprisoning him.

  He told himself that he should get dressed and go find Lillian. It was better that she heard it from him than from someone else. But still, he just stood, not moving, unable to struggle through the pain.

  Lil stood on the deck of The Nest, sipping her coffee early the next morning. The sky was tinged with pink from the sunrise. She spied Ruby and Mischief walking by on the beach and waved.

  Ruby came up to the deck. “Good morning. I see you’re out to catch the sunrise, too.”

  “Where are David and May?”

  “I left them sleeping in bed, with May curled up almost on top of David. I swear that dog has to be attached to the man all the time.”

  “Would you like a cup of coffee?” Lillian raised her mug.

  “Love one.”

  Ruby came up on the deck and Lillian brought her a cup of steaming coffee. They settled onto two chairs, watching the sky brighten.

  “How did your dinner turn out last night? Did Gary enjoy your home cooking?”

  “I think so.” Lillian felt the heat of a blush cross her face at thoughts of all the kisses last night.

  Ruby cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. “And… What’s that look about?”

  A smile spread across her face. “He… It was a magical night. The stars were out. Everything was perfect.”

  “And?”

  “He kissed me.”

  “Ah, ha. I knew it. I could tell by your face.” Ruby nodded vigorously. “So, do you like him?”

  “I—” She paused and her forehead creased. “I—I do. He’s wonderful to talk to. I really enjoy our time together. But it’s silly to have feelings like this for someone I just met a few weeks ago, isn’t it?”

  “Some people fall in love at first sight.”

  “Oh, I don’t love him. I just… I really, really like him.” The warmth of another blush covered her cheeks.

  “I’m happy for you. Love to see you doing something for you.” Ruby shrugged. “You know, other than running the inn, which I know you love doing. But still, a person needs a well-rounded life. And a handsome man kissing you isn’t all bad.” Ruby’s mouth curved in a teasing grin.

  They finished their coffee and Ruby stood. “Come on, Mischief. We should head back and make David a big breakfast. I’m kind of hungry myself.” She turned to Lillian. “I’ll see you at The Yarn Society?”

  “You will.”

  Ruby left and Lillian still sat outside thinking about last night. Suddenly she jumped up. She’d go see if Gary was eating breakfast in the dining room. If not, she’d bring him over some cinnamon rolls and enjoy a quiet breakfast with him. She was just keeping up her part of the bargain with him, of course. That meals were included in his pay for his work rehabbing the guest house.

  That was all it was.

  Not that she wanted another one of his kisses…

  Jay sat at the computer at the desk at the edge of the kitchen. His eyes widened as he read the news on his screen. Their Gary Jones was none other than multi-millionaire Garrett Jones, head of GJ Industries. The company known for building hotels across the country along with office buildings and shopping malls.

  “What are you looking at?” Robin walked up behind him, startling him.

  He looked up at her. “Look at this.” He pointed to the picture of Gary—Garrett. “It says he’s the man responsible for the collapse of a hotel being built in Seattle where a man was killed. The insurance company just settled.”

  She looked over, resting her hand on his shoulder. Heat seared through him at her touch. He ignored it though. Ignored it completely.

  “That is Gary, isn’t it?” She leaned even closer, leaving only a fraction of space between them and continued reading the story. “It says inferior materials were used in the construction and the company covered up their use of them.”

  “Looks like they had a trial and there wasn’t enough evidence to convict Gary.” Jay sighed. “And we have a man like that fixing Magnolia House.”

  “We need to tell Lil.” Robin frowned.

  “Yes, we do. And I need to double-check everything this man has done.”

  “But why would a multi-millionaire be here on the island, posing as a carpenter fix-it guy? And Lillian is just paying him a fair wage, nothing special.”

  “I doubt he needs the money,” Jay said wryly. “And my best guess is he’s here hiding out. Using an alias so people wouldn’t find out who he really is.”

  “I’ll go find Lil right now. This is the last thing she needs. And I think she’s started caring about him, too. But he’s just been one big lie.” Her voice held a tone of concern. She turned and left, leaving that empty feeling to the kitchen, yet again.

  Jay got up from the computer with guilt rushing through him. He’d assured Lillian that he thought Gary was doing good work for her. But what if he was cutting corners and using sub-par material on Magnolia House too?

  Chapter 24

  Gary stood out on the deck with Lucky by his side. He should be working, yet he just stood and stared out at the waves, unmotivated to do anything. Lillian approached from the beach and he sucked in a long, deep breath for courage. Now was as good a time to tell her as any. Then he’d see that look in her eyes that he’d become so familiar with. The judgment. And sometimes pity. And sometimes anger.

  She held a box in her hands. Probably bringing his breakfast. If only he could freeze time. Have a nice breakfast with her. Kiss her one more time before he told her the truth.

  Maybe he could delay telling her for that long…

  She took a step up the stairs and frowned, juggling the box to one hand as she reached for the stair railing with the other. Then he watched in horror as the whole staircase began to sway.

  Her eyes widened with fear, and he told his feet to move. Get over there. Something wasn’t right.

  The stairs began to crumble beneath her. “Lillian.” He screamed her name.

  As if in slow motion as he tried to reach her, the box she was carrying dropped and flung cinnamon rolls around her. She grabbed the rail
ing and swung off to the side, crashing to the sand. She cried out in pain as a long board fell across her legs.

  Again.

  It was happening again.

  His body finally listened to his commands, and he swung down from the deck, dropping to the sand. “Lillian. Lil, are you okay?” He lifted the board from across her legs, his breath shallow, his heart pounding.

  Her eyes were closed, but she opened them slowly. “I… I think I am.” She started to sit up.

  He pushed her back gently. “No, don’t get up. That was quite a fall.”

  “I’m okay.” But her look didn’t convince him.

  “I’m calling 9-1-1.”

  “No, that’s silly. Just give me a moment.”

  He held his phone in one hand, debating. She’d fallen a good five or six feet. Hard.

  “I think I’m okay. Really. Help me sit up.”

  “I still think I should call 9-1-1.”

  “If you don’t help me, I’ll just do it myself.” Her no-nonsense look convinced him.

  He gently put an arm around her and helped her sit.

  “I think I’m okay.”

  “You keep saying that, but you have blood all over your leg.” He frowned.

  “Help me stand and we’ll check it out. Probably cut it on the board.”

  “I don’t understand. Those stairs were solid. More than solid.” He glanced at the pile of jumbled boards. He’d built them to spec. More than spec. What had he done wrong?

  “Help me up.”

  He helped her stand, and she stood there for a moment, trembling as he kept his arm firmly but gently around her.

  “I’m bringing you inside.” He wrapped an arm around her and she took a few weak steps forward. “I’m going to carry you. Don’t argue with me.” He swept her up in his arms and carried her inside and set her gingerly on the couch.

  She leaned back against it, her face a bit pale.

  “You should call your niece. Or 9-1-1.”

  “No, I don’t want to bother her and I don’t need 9-1-1.”

  “Call your niece or I will.” He stood there staring at her with what he hoped was a look that deterred any further argument.

  She pulled out her phone and showed him a smashed screen. “Don’t think I’ll be using this.”

  “I’ll call over to the inn.” He grabbed his phone and called the inn. “I need to speak to Sara. This is Gary Jones. Is she around?”

  “Gary, it’s Robin.” Her voice sounded oddly cold, not its usual friendly, welcoming tone. “I haven’t seen Sara this morning.”

  “I need to find her. Lillian’s been hurt. She’s here at Magnolia House.”

  Silence thundered through the phone for a brief moment. “I’ll find her right now.”

  He turned to Lillian. “Are you sure I shouldn’t call 9-1-1?”

  “Positive, and quit asking.” She pinned him with a determined look. “And don’t let Sara call either.”

  He knelt before her, examining the cuts on her leg. “That was an impressive leap away from the collapsing stairs.”

  She gave him a weak smile. “Instinct. I’m kind of impressed I got so far away from them, too.”

  “What can I do?” He wanted to turn back time. Make this all go away. But then he’d had that exact same thought so many times over the last year or so.

  “Do you think you could get me a glass of water?”

  “Of course.” He hurried to the sink and grabbed her a glass. His hands shook and he forced himself to steady them. He glanced and saw Lucky standing on the other side of the door to the deck with an accusing look on his face. He let Lucky inside and the dog immediately walked over to Lillian and sat next to her, staring at her, as if checking on her.

  She sipped the water and Gary knelt before her. “Are you sure you’re okay? You still really do need to go get checked out.”

  “Aunt Lil.” Sara and Robin came bursting through the door, followed by Jay who had nothing less than a murderous look etched on his features.

  Lillian could see the fear in Sara’s eyes and rushed to reassure her. “I’m okay. Just a little fall.”

  “It wasn’t a little fall,” Gary contradicted her as he stood, making way for Sara. “The stairs collapsed under her.”

  Sara dropped to the floor in front of her. “You are hurt. There’s blood. Do you think you re-injured your hip?”

  Jay knelt beside Sara. “You look pale.”

  Robin hovered close. “We should call 9-1-1 with a fall like that.”

  “No, you shouldn’t. I’m fine.” She heard the bit of a tremble in her voice and it annoyed her. “Really.” There, that sounded stronger.

  Jay stood and faced Gary. “The stairs collapsed? How the heck did that happen?” Anger and accusation were plain on his face. “Again? Did you cut corners on the materials again? And pocketed the difference like before? You’re lucky you didn’t kill someone yet again.”

  Gary’s face turned ashen.

  “Jay, what are you talking about?” She looked from Jay to Gary and back to Jay.

  “This man is Garrett Jones. He’s the CEO of GJ Industries. They used shoddy building materials and a hotel they were building collapsed and killed a worker.”

  Gary stepped forward, his eyes pleading. “Lil, let me explain.”

  “Not now.” Jay cut him off with a wave of his hand. “We’re taking Lillian to Dr. Harden and getting her checked out.”

  “Can you stand?” Sara asked.

  “Of course.” She wasn’t exactly sure she could, and what was going on between Jay and Gary? Gary reached out to help her to her feet, but Jay shouldered him aside.

  Jay helped her up, and she stood unsteadily. She grabbed onto his arm and Sara took her other arm. Jay started to lead her out the door. He paused and turned back to Gary. “You’re fired. And I’ll deal with you later.”

  Chapter 25

  Gary walked out onto the deck, his hands trembling. Guilt rushed over him, in wave after wave. How could this have happened again? Lillian could have been hurt worse… or killed.

  Just like Dale.

  And now he couldn’t blame it on Brian. This was all his fault.

  He had no place in the building business any longer. He’d thought he’d done such a superb job with the repairs he was doing here. He’d obviously missed something, messed something up. Maybe it had been too long since he’d done hands-on carpentry.

  Lucky sat by his side, looking up at him. It almost looked like the dog had an accusing look on his face, too. Great. Just great.

  He raked his hand through his hair. Jay had fired him, and he was sure Lillian would stand by his decision. Jay would tell her all the details of what had happened back in Seattle. How Dale had died.

  It didn’t matter that it was Brian who’d cut corners and bought inferior building supplies, pocketing the difference. He’d been the one to hire Brian, an old college buddy. Then he’d gotten too busy to double-check everything like he usually did, or maybe he would have found the discrepancies. Or maybe he would have listened to Mason when he’d mentioned he thought something was off on the accounts on the hotel they were building.

  But he’d defended Brian, never dreaming his friend would do something like this. But Brian had and pocketed over a million dollars then disappeared after the collapse of the building.

  He scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to get the picture of Dale and his family—he had two little girls and a lovely wife—scrubbed from his memory.

  The truth was, he was the top man at the company—or had been. It was his final responsibility. It didn’t matter that a jury had acquitted him. He was guilty. It was his company, his hire, his friend.

  He turned and looked at the house. He was fired. The house wouldn’t be finished in time if he left. But Jay had made it perfectly clear.

  Fired.

  He trudged inside. The least he could do was make a list of what still needed to be finished for whoever took over the job. It was mostly odd
s and ends. Some painting. He’d gotten the major work finished. Though they’d probably hire someone to go over all the work he’d done, and he didn’t blame them.

  Lucky sat by his feet while he worked on the list. He wanted to call and check on Lillian, but he had no one to call, really. No one would talk to him, he was sure.

  But the town would talk. Surely he’d hear something if he stuck around a few days. Or he could hang out from a distance and see if he could catch a glimpse of Lil.

  No, what he needed to do was talk to Lillian. She deserved that much. Explain about Seattle and apologize for what had happened to her here. Then, he would resign from his position with GJ Industries, no longer be on a leave of absence, he’d be… retired. Turn it over permanently to Mason.

  He’d lost everything because of his decisions. And now he’d lost Lillian. Pain squeezed his heart, though he was used to the pain. Used to the inability to change the past.

  Used to the guilt.

  He looked down at Lucky. “What do you say? Want to find a new place to stay for a few days? I have to talk to Lillian. Then I’m leaving this town. Leaving her in peace.”

  And then what was he going to do with his life?

  Dr. Harden briskly entered the exam room. “Lillian, what happened?”

  “Ashley, I’m fine. There was a little accident at the house I’m having rehabbed.” Lillian assured the doctor, thinking that everyone was just making a big fuss over her.

  “It was not a little accident. The stairs collapsed, and she took a hard fall.” Sara glared at her. Her niece had insisted on coming into the exam room with her while Robin and Jay insisted on sticking around in the waiting room. “She needs to be totally checked out. And what about her hip? What if she re-injured it?”

  “Sara, let Ashley do her job.”

  Ashley checked her out and even did x-rays, though Lillian protested she didn’t need them. Thankfully, nothing was broken. After cleaning and bandaging her legs, Ashley sent her home with admonitions to take it easy for a few days.