Barefoot Bay: Silhouettes on the Sand (Kindle Worlds Novella) (14 page)

One by one, C.J. found herself nearly crushed in a wealth of Ivory appreciation.

"Lieutenant." The Colonel tapped his cane on the floor.

"Sir." Habit had C.J. snapping her heels and standing at attention.

"At ease, woman." Like the Red Sea, the family parted, making room for the Colonel. "I knew I liked you. No matter what this foolish grandson of mine does, you're part of this family. Remember that."

C.J. nodded. If only Chase felt the same way.

* * *

The Colonel had sent the family jet to pick up Siobhan’s mother, Maura, in Miami. As soon as Siobhan had opened her eyes, and C.J. could see for herself that her patient really would be okay, Chase had taken C.J. home to the villa. Showered and changed into their own clean clothes, they'd spent the rest of the day curled up on the sofa, watching a marathon of romantic comedies. As each movie ended, he could feel a little more of the tension in C.J.’s body seeping away.

By the time room service brought dinner, the dark shadows that had haunted her eyes all day were replaced with a glimmer of light. As the night swallowed the last ray of daylight, the need for quiet had passed, and they'd shared more stories. Chase told her about the year he and Devlin raced in the America's Cup. She shared stories about what it was like being the average-smart sister to a beauty queen. They'd laughed and smiled and talked some more until the stress of the day had ebbed away and sleep had won out.

The next day, Tuesday, had gone mostly as scheduled. Any family not involved in some part of the pre-wedding plans took turns sitting with Siobhan and her mother. It was the Ivory family in full support mode.

Youth had its advantage. Siobhan was making fabulous progress and would be discharged in time to attend the wedding but would no longer be in any condition to be one of the bridesmaids.

Liza knew who she wanted as Siobhan’s replacement. "I know it's asking a lot, but it seems somehow fitting that you take Siobhan's place in the bridal party."

"Me?" C.J. had almost fallen out of her chair with surprise.

With both Liza and Beth on the bridesmaid-stand-in bandwagon, C.J. hadn't stood a chance.

Whenever possible, his grandparents had paired C.J. with Chase over each day’s events. Despite her horror when initially told about the doubles tennis match, C.J. wielded a pretty mean backhand. When it came down to the last shot, however, Devlin and his sister Leah won the Ivory Cup.

C.J. fared well on the water too. Even though the navy didn't use sailing ships, C.J. was steady on her feet and eager to jump in and help. Strong winds had given the
Fidelis
, the Colonel's favorite seventy-five-foot racing yacht, the power of the gods. At one point, in a friendly little show of strength, the
Fidelis
and a neighbor's boat had raced in spurts. When the sailboat tipped to nearly 85 degrees as the wind filled the sails and carried her across the waves, C.J.'s laughter roared through the rushing wind and wrapped itself tightly around Chase's heart. He vowed at that moment, if she'd let him, he would keep her happy like this for the rest of her life.

"Oh, my God, that was so much fun." C.J. nearly bounced in place. "No wonder Siobhan loves to sail. What a rush."

With every passing day, Chase grew more sure of his feelings for C.J. For the first time in his life, he truly believed his grandfather had fallen in love with Mimsy at the very moment he'd laid eyes on her. Though Chase hadn't understood it before now, just like a bird flying south for winter, he'd been pulled to C.J.’s side that first night. And now, less than a week later, he couldn't imagine not having her with him. Only two more nights and, unless he came up with a plan, his time with C.J. would be over. Whatever he did, he'd better do it fast, or life after Saturday would not be pretty.

* * *

C.J. tossed her beach bag on the sofa and strolled toward the kitchen. "Want anything to drink?"

"Water would be great." Chase's footsteps sounded behind her at the same time her cell phone rang.

"Would you grab that? It might be Bev." Just inside the kitchen doorway, she exchanged his bottled water for her cell. "Hello?"

"C.J.?"

The voice sounded familiar. "Yes?"

"Do you have any idea how hard you've been to track down? Finally convinced your mom to give me your number."

"Captain Miller?"

"You're not in the navy anymore, C.J. Call me Debra."

C.J. dared a look at Chase. Standing only a couple of feet in front of her, his relaxed stance had shifted to one of tense concern. "Nice to hear from you, … Debra."

"Good, because I'm calling on business. Grapevine has it that you're decompressing with your sister."

C.J. nodded before she realized the captain couldn't see her. "Something like that."

"Well, I need a head surgical nurse. A good one."

Her gaze dropped down to the floor, and she spun around to retrieve her water. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I'm offering you a job. Here at Bethesda." Her cheery voice dropped to a lower, more serious octave. "C.J., these men and women still need us. You're too good not to be working."

"I …" Holding the bottle of water in one hand, she turned to face Chase again. He hadn't moved any closer, but he still listened carefully. "I don't know."

"I've got to fill the spot. Will you at least think about it?"

Would she? Did she want to return to the OR? Work with sick and injured veterans? It had been days since Siobhan’s accident, and that strangling lack of breath that had previously affected C.J. at the thought of returning to work was nowhere to be found. Adrenaline over Siobhan’s injuries had also long since died down. Could it be she really was ready to go back to work? "Yes. Yes, I'll think about it."

"Good." Debra Miller's uplifting tone returned. "I can only hold it open for another few days before I have to make a decision, but I'm hoping you'll say yes."

"Thank you, Cap—Debra."

C.J. flipped her phone case shut and stood frozen, staring down at it, until Chase's fingertips barely grazed the side of her arms. "Everything okay?"

Raising her eyes to meet his, she took a minute to gather thoughts that wouldn't come and shrugged.

"Was it bad news?" His eyes grew cloudy with concern.

"No." She shook her head. "It was a job offer."

Chase's hands fell to his side. "A good one?"

"Could be. In Maryland."

Eyes that had been narrowed in serious thought widened then returned to normal, almost indifferent.

Did he not care? Had they not grown as close as she’d thought over these last few days? What was going through his mind? "I don't know what to do."

With his hand curled inward, he ran the back of his knuckles across her chin. "What do you want to do?" he asked softly.

Meeting his questioning gaze, she waited for her gut to talk to her. "I think I want to say yes."

The wedding day had finally arrived, and C.J. was horribly torn. She'd enjoyed every one of the scheduled events way more than she had expected to. The family had been very kind to her from the beginning, but, since the accident with Siobhan, C.J. had actually begun to feel like a member of the family.

No one was more surprised than her to discover that a few weeks of summer camp in junior high had left her with one heck of a backhand in tennis. And though she knew she had no issues with boats and motion sickness, she hadn't been prepared to love sailing so much. Definitely not a poor man's sport. Chatting with the crew, she was flabbergasted at the cost of racing a yacht and even more taken aback at the cost of the actual sailboat, and the Ivorys owned more than one.

The Ivory family wealth was simply mind-boggling. And yet being around them felt so normal. They laughed and cried and worried and played and danced and ate and loved, just like everyone else. And they gave. Despite her initial frustration with the amount of money Chase spent—from a valet service to park his car in an empty lot to the clothes she would probably never wear again on her back—she'd since learned that the Ivory family followed the philosophy of those blessed with much are responsible for much.

Besides running Fortune 500 companies or managing successful careers, every single member of the Ivory family was involved in major charity work. Some sat on various boards of directors, and others were more hands-on with favorite causes, but everyone, including the teens, were responsible for giving back. Chase was the head of more than one cause. C.J. had no idea how he divided his time in so many ways, and she probably would never find out.

Over the two days since sailing and her phone call from Debra, C.J. had hoped he'd say or do something that hinted he wanted to extend their deal. Make it more personal. She wanted to return to nursing, but she could do that anywhere. Working for Captain Miller would be a no-brainer. The woman was a phenomenal surgeon and wonderful mentor. But she wasn't the only good boss in the country.

Chase had been sympathetic and supportive, both before and after the call. A few times she'd caught him watching her with that look that turned her insides to jelly. More than once she'd have sworn he might even kiss her again. The memory of his lips on hers still raged strong in her mind. But nothing. No hint or clue came that he had any intention of changing their business agreement. So she'd plastered on a brave face and carried on, determined to enjoy every minute of whatever little time they had left. Including this morning.

"I can't believe we need all day to get ready for the wedding." C.J. pushed away from the small breakfast table.

"All I know is that there are strict orders for all the women to report to the spa by 10:00 a.m. I'm not privy to whatever torture, er, plans you're in store for." Chase flashed a cheesy smile.

She hated that most of her last day in this world of make believe had to be spent away from Chase. "It's not like it'll take all day to do
my
hair." The whole point of her cropped cut was to be able to wash and wear.

"My job is merely to make sure you're on time. Then I join my brothers to make sure Nate doesn't run away from home."

The serious look on Chase's face made C.J. do a double take. "You don't really … ?"

"No." Chase smiled. "Nate is so into Liza that I'm often amazed he can breathe when she's not in the room."

"They are pretty smitten."

"It's almost annoying."

"Almost?"

Chase shrugged. "I can't be annoyed about anyone or anything that makes my brother so happy."

C.J. flashed back to Chase’s earlier comment about not being happy deep down. Funny how appearances could be deceiving. To C.J., everyone looked happy this week. Except for the day the runaway car almost killed Siobhan, she mostly felt like she was in the happiest place on earth.

"Ready?" Chase stood at the door.

She slung her purse strap over her shoulder and forced a smile. "You really don't need to come with me. I can find my way."

Chase pinned her with his gaze, but, like every time before, instead of reaching out, he took a retreating step. How had he gone from stealing kisses to keeping his distance? And how could she change that before tomorrow morning’s departure?

* * *

"Wow." Beth grinned at her future sister-in-law. "Nate will swallow his tongue when he sees you."

"Everyone looks wonderful." Liza peered over her shoulder at the women who had spent the better part of the day being primped and coifed for the evening wedding ceremony. C.J. didn't doubt they all looked fabulous. Anyone who spent an entire day at the Eucalyptus Spa getting worked over, literally from head to toe, should look like a million bucks.

When the makeup artist finished doing her eyes, C.J. wasn't sure she could open her eyelids. She'd never worn so much makeup in her life and damned if she didn't look almost good enough to compete in one of her sister's beauty pageants. Even her military-length haircut appeared stylish and feminine. And the dress that Liza had flown in and altered for C.J. made her look like a goddess. But even stranger than her transformation from battle-ready soldier to princess was that—rather than feeling out of place like a badly dressed-up Barbie doll—C.J. felt absolutely beautiful.

The first notes of the wedding music began to play. This was the cue the bridal party had been waiting for. Lowest in the pecking order among the bridesmaids, C.J. was first out the door. The row of Ivory brothers at the foot of the altar was an impressive sight. Each with broad shoulders, varying shades of chestnut hair, and deep soulful eyes, the Ivory men had enough testosterone pinging about to make every woman in the church weak in the knees. To keep her own steps steady, C.J. tried to focus on the groom. Nate Ivory was charming, handsome, and the anticipation in his eyes warmed C.J.'s heart. In contrast, every time her gaze drifted to the brother beside him, her heart took off in double time, and she felt warm in unmentionable places.

Taking her place at the opposite side of the altar from the men, she resisted the urge to glance across the way and instead kept her focus on the shift in music and the beautiful bride standing in the vestibule doorway. Liza was stunning; Nate was grinning, and damned if C.J. didn't need to take another quick peek at Chase.