Page 53 of Clear Blue Sky

“We won’t keep you any longer,” Marcus said. “I’m sure our lunch will be served any second now, and then I’ve got to go meet the boys and Roxy has work to do.” Marcus took his sister by the elbow. “Thanks again for meeting with me. My head is spinning with all the possibilities.” He turned and guided Roxy back toward the main dining room.

“I remembered to keep my brother from hitting that man,” Maverick said under his breath. “But I wanted to throttle both he and his bitch of a sister.”

“We rattled their nerves. That’s good.” Nelson palmed Brandi’s cheek. “I’m sorry, but we need to talk about the fact Roxy is working for your mom’s publicist and how that changes this weekend.”

“I did see a Roxy Baxter on the list as Leslie’s errand girl. Not her new assistant. But she is allowed to attend the premiere,” Brandi said.

“When you asked me to host this party, you mentioned that it was your mother’s and her publicist’s idea.” Nelson dropped his arm to his side. “I wonder if Roxy might have planted that idea in her boss’ mind.”

“That sounds like a real possibility and I can see how my mom would run with it.” Lake nodded. “I’ve already texted both my parents. My dad’s in meetings right now, but he said he’ll call in about forty minutes. They are taking a private charter tomorrow, but something tells me they might show up tonight.”

“That might not be a bad idea. Especially if they can do it quietly.” Nelson looped his arm over Brandi’s shoulders. “Maverick, do think you and Phoenix can hold things down here while we go back to my place to discuss the next steps and call the Grants?”

“I’ll keep an eye on those two,” Maverick said. “We’ve got a full staff today, so Phoenix and I can sneak out if we need to.”

“Perfect. Thanks, man. And let me know if you hear from your mom and dad.” Marcus and Roxy could fuck with Nelson’s life, but no way in hell was he going to let them mess with anyone in Brandi’s family.

13

“Nelson?” Brandi strolled down the steps to the lower dock, careful not to spill an oversized glass of Pinot Noir. “Are you down here?” She glanced at the brand-new twenty-eight-foot cabin cruiser with twin inboard-outboard engine. From what she could tell, he’d barely used it. He also had a rowboat and a small fishing boat parked under the sundeck.

Both were brand new as well, and both were equally untouched.

She’d always known that Nelson hid from something painful within the confines of his restaurant. That work had become his only way to cope with whatever haunted his soul. Now that she’d gotten to know him better and understood what he was running from, she wished he could settle his mind and heart a little and enjoy his life.

He deserved it.

“Yup.” He sat on one of the Adirondack chairs, his legs stretched out and his ankles crossed. He swirled a glass of red wine and stared at the setting sun. “I needed some fresh air.”

“My parents are going to head over in about ten minutes.” She eased into the big chair and sighed.

He chuckled. “This is not how I expected to meet your parents for the first time.”

“You’ve met them a couple of times already.”

“Yeah. But not as your boyfriend. That kind of changes things.”

“What are you worried about?” She kicked off her shoes and tucked her feet up under her butt. “The situation? Or how they will respond to us dating?”

“Both.” He lifted his glass. The settling sunrays caught the rim. His blue eyes sparkled in the evening sky. “However, my first concern is the security at the restaurant.”

“Jared and my mom’s team have that covered.” She reached out and rested her hand on his thigh, massaging gently.

“My military background dictates that I worry about it. Not to mention the whole Marcus, Roxy situation.” He set his drink on the dock and rested his hand over hers, rubbing his thumb tenderly over her skin. “If my past wasn’t colliding with your family, it would be another day at the office. But because I’m sure he’s here to harm me and possibly my brothers, you and anyone in your family could be collateral damage.” He kissed the back of her hand.

“Couldn’t be as simple as he wants to expose the affair and how he believes your actions killed Seth?”

“If they want to bring out my one-night stand with a married woman, I can handle it. If they want to dig up rumors and drag my name through the mud, I’ll endure it. Worst thing that can happen is me and my brothers have to start over again.”

“That would suck.”

He smiled. “It would. But it wouldn’t be the end of the world and depending on how everyone in this town takes it, it might even blow over. Unfortunately, I don’t think Marcus has spent all this time planning and writing a fake novel in hopes of ruining my reputation. That’s too much of a crapshoot and he’s not a gambler. Not in that sense of the word.”

Brandi had been rolling over all the possible outcomes in her mind for hours. She’d listened to Lake and Nelson discuss the book and what was true and false. They’d reviewed the information Leslie had sent regarding Roxy’s employment and how that came about. What really got under her skin was that Roxy had been the one to suggest to Leslie that a premiere in Lake George might be a great publicity stunt for both the movie and Grant Publishing and make it easier for Lake and Tiki to attend.

Leslie had her reservations about moving the venue, but she saw the merits and brought it to Brandi’s mom, who jumped all over it.

That didn’t surprise Brandi. “Do you really believe he’s dangerous? I mean, he saved your life.”

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