Love Captures the Heart (Sully Point, Book 3) (2 page)

* * * *

Holly caught a cab to her office and walked in filled with
energy and determination. She had sensed Jason Earlington was not at all
convinced she would get him employees that would last. She knew such a
challenge drove her desire to get him the perfect matches for employees.

"Lana," she called out to her assistant. Lana came
into her office and sat down, pad at the ready. Holly smiled at her. She
considered finding Lana her best job of matching. The woman was in her mid-forties,
still took dictation by hand in a steno book, yet was up on the latest word
processing programs and was computer savvy. Lana tended to mother her just
enough to help and not too much to irritate.

"So you met him. What did you think? Did he live up to
the hype?" Lana asked.

"And then some. Yes, he's definitely a presence.
Handsome, but not in a pretty boy way, more intense and striking. Green eyes
that can spear you with a look, silky-looking dark brown hair with waves you
want to run your fingers through, an excellent body in an expensive
suit--"

"Stop," Lana said laughing. "Enough. Sounds
gorgeous."

"He's hot as hell, that's for sure. But his looks
aren't going to enter into our work with him. I have in mind two people from
our languishing list. John Spivey and Maribeth Gleason. I need to see both of
them today if possible."

Lana nodded. The languishing list was a list of people who
should have good jobs but didn't yet. People who were languishing, continuing
in a miserable condition--Lana had looked it up to be sure when Holly named
that list. Those who were in dire need of a job actually.

"I also need to find him an assistant, preferably one
who is familiar with the business of architecture, drafting, and building,
something along those lines. I think we'll need to go to our renaissance list
for that one. I don't have anyone in mind yet, so I'll want to review
files."

Lana knew the list of people who were good at a lot of
different things was not too long these days. "I'll bring you all the
files now, but I'm afraid there aren't too many. Does he want a man or a
woman?"

"Hmm. That is the question, isn't it?" Holly
murmured.

"What?"

"Oh nothing. I don't think it matters. The person
should be willing to work long hours."

"Okay I'll round up the files." Lana stood up and
then didn't move to leave. She asked, "Were you attracted to him?"

"Of course. But he's a client and you know my rule. No
sex with clients."

Lana laughed. "One of these days you're going to meet
the man who can make you forget all your rules. That will be interesting."

Holly smiled at her. "Don't give me any ideas. Besides,
don't I have sex with enough people as it is?"

Lana gave her boss a gentle look. "Yes, but it's not
the same as falling in love with a man you want to spend the rest of your life
with, not the same at all."

"Just because you married the love of your life doesn't
mean we all get to have that."

"No, but you have to at least let the possibility exist
for you. And didn't you swear off sex for the past few months?"

Holly sighed. "Actually yes, and it was six months.
It's been very weird. I think I've sublimated my sex drive into my work."

"I'm sure it will come roaring back if given the right
opportunity."

"I guess I'll see. Okay, no more talk of my empty sex
life. Time to work."

Lana saluted her. "Okay boss." She turned and
walked from the room.

Holly laughed. Yes, she appreciated Lana and the way she
talked about the things Holly might ignore. But she was afraid Lana was wrong
about finding the right person. She was twenty-nine years old and had never
found that special feeling with any man she'd been with over the years. She
looked at her sister Anna, married to Sam and mother of a two-year old, and at
her brother Cody who'd found his one right person in Julia. Their new baby was
the icing on the cake of their relationship. Maybe love couldn't strike any
more times in the same family.

She knew she had a fear of commitment stemming from her
mother dying when she was a child. The idea of loving someone as much as her
father had loved her mother and then losing that person terrified her. Shaking
off those thoughts, she decided it was time to focus on finding the right
people to work for Mr. Earlington.

* * * *

Jason was surprised when the receptionist told him Rob Tremaine
was waiting to see him. He knew of the man from the financial community but had
never met him. "Send him to my office," he told the girl.

When the older man entered, it was with an air of
confidence, suavity, and money. Jason motioned him to a chair and then sat
across from him in the other chair. "What can I do for you Mr. Tremaine?"

"First, call me Rob. I'm hoping we'll be working
together on a project."

"Fine, Rob, what kind of project?"

"I want to put up a housing development in a small
town. I don't want it to be your run of the mill place, however. I want
innovative, creative designs that cover a range of prices, from low end to
high."

Jason held up a hand. "I hate to interrupt, but I
should make something clear. I design buildings, big buildings. It's been a few
years since I've designed a house."

"Think of this more as designing a community. Sully
Point is a--"

"Sully Point? Is that what you said?" Jason asked
sharply.

"Yes, Sully Point, Massachusetts. My daughter Julia and
her husband--"

"Cody, right?" He began to smile. "Talk about
coincidences. I was just there this past weekend on one of Cody's boats. And
today I hired Holly Grainger's personnel agency."

Rob laughed. "See, you're already involved in the
family project."

"Family project?"

"Recently, at a family gathering, we were all sitting
around talking about what we could do to improve Sully Point. Between us there
is quite a bit of money floating around and we'd like to put it to good use. We
started discussing how we'd like to create something that would bring visitors
into the town, but would also offer a service. With two artists in the family,
it's not surprising that the idea of an artist colony came up. The idea would
be to provide affordable housing to artists, but we wouldn't skimp on the
creative details that would go into each home. All the homes in the project
would be stylish, new, different, and fit into a community of high end homes.
Then we'd have other luxury homes available for vacation leasing, as well as
others that would be sold.

"The town of Sully Point would benefit by the influx of
jobs on the construction side of things first. Then we'd be providing a draw to
more tourists once the places were done. And that's when we thought of using an
architect like you for the whole project. A name like yours on the project
would draw in even more people to the town just to look at what you'd
created."

Jason frowned. "Tell me, did my name come up during
your discussion--and was Holly there?"

Rob looked surprised. "Your name was our first choice.
And no, Holly hasn't heard about the project yet. This was between me, Frank
Grainger, Sam and Anna, and Cody and Julia. We planned on talking to Holly
about it later. Why? Is it important?"

Jason felt tension leave his body. "No, not really.
It's just that she and I are working together now, and if she knew about
this...it would have seemed awkward."

"No problem then, since she doesn't know. Of course,
her business, just like her father's and Cody's, would benefit by having more
tourism."

"Her agency would benefit from tourism there? In what
way?"

Rob shook his head. "No, I meant the bakery in Sully
Point. She owns it."

"A bakery?" Jason felt like he was about two steps
behind in this conversation. "Why does she own a bakery in Sully
Point?"

"Apparently that's how she started out, baking. I guess
she's good at it."

Jason realized Holly was not the main point of this visit
from Rob. "Sorry, didn't mean to sidetrack. I was just surprised. When did
you want to build this and how many houses are we talking about?"

Rob began giving him details. Even as Jason listened and
made notes, he wondered why his life seemed to suddenly be pointing him toward
Sully Point.

Chapter 2

Holly wondered if she was losing her mind. She'd decided to
come home to her father's place for the weekend again, and as she drove up she
saw a man who looked exactly like Jason Earlington walking up the steps to the
front porch. She knew she'd had him on her mind, but this was going too far!

She parked her car and went in through the back door into
the kitchen. She heard voices in the front of the house and walked quickly to
them.

"Welcome to Sully Point," her father, Frank, was
saying to the man. She stopped dead and stared at him.

"Thank you, I--" he stopped talking and stared
back at her.

"What are you doing here?" she said.

"What are you doing here?" he said.

Frank looked from one to the other of them and said, "I
see you two know each other...?"

Holly came forward and knew she must look confused.
"Yes, we've met on two occasions actually. Mr. Earlington is a client of
mine. Can I ask what you are here for?"

He smiled. "Your family is a client of mine now. I'm
assuming Rob hasn't had a chance to tell you about the project?"

"What project? And no, he called and left me a message
this week but I've been swamped."

Frank stepped in and said, "Come in, come in and let's
all sit down and talk about this. Who'd like some lemonade tea?"

"Sure, Dad, I'd like some," Holly said and led the
way for them into the living room. "Mr. Earlington, how about you?"

"Please, call me Jason, both of you. We're going to be
working together and we should be comfortable. I usually just drink water
during the day, but lemonade tea sounds interesting."

Frank smiled at him. "You've never had it? You're in
for a treat. I'll be right back."

Jason and Holly sat down in chairs facing each other.
"So..." she said.

"Yes, I agree it's strange," he said. "You
can imagine my surprise when Rob Tremaine showed up in my office the same day I
met with you and talking about Sully Point."

Frank arrived with glasses of tea for everyone and sat down
on the couch. He proceeded to explain the project to Holly, who felt like
someone should have told her about it sooner. Although, she guessed Rob had
tried. That would teach her not to ignore messages from family.

"Jason is visiting this weekend to get a feel for the
town. There are also a few pieces of property for him to look over. You know,
Holly, it's perfect you being here."

"Oh?" She was mulling over how the man across from
her could have become more gut-wrenchingly desirable in a week. It didn't seem
right.

"Yes. You could do all of us a big favor and show Jason
around town. With tourist season in full swing, everybody is busy with their
businesses. You can take him around and show him everything, and introduce him
to Sam and Anna, as well as Cody and Julia."

Jason said, "You don't have to do that, Miss Grainger.
I'm sure I can find my way around."

"First, call me Holly. And second, you'll probably
learn more with a guide. It could be fun."

He nodded, not looking entirely convinced.

Frank slapped his hands on his thighs. "Good! This
works out well. Now where are you staying Jason?"

"I checked in at the Sully Point Lodge. Is it the only
accommodation available?"

"It's another thing we wanted to add to the
project," Frank told him. The Lodge is about the only place and it's not
enough during tourist season. We thought if you came up with something unique,
it would kill two birds so speak."

Jason frowned. "Let's not get too far ahead of
ourselves."

"Right, right you are. You're welcome to stay here at
the house, Jason, if you'd prefer it to the motel. Plenty of room, even with
Holly home for the weekend."

Holly sent a swift glare at her father, while Jason shook
his head. "No, I'll be fine at the Lodge but thank you."

"Well then, I need to get back to the store. Can't
leave Bobby in charge for too long. You two have a good time. Holly, everyone
will be coming for dinner tonight to meet with Jason, so be sure to have him
back here by six o'clock."

"Yes, Dad." She tried to motion to him to wait so
she could talk to him, but he got out of the house in a flash. Avoiding her
most likely.

There was an awkward silence in the living room as she
turned to face Jason. "I have to say that I've never met with a client in
the place where I grew up. It feels strange."

He nodded with a look of relief. "Yes, it does feel a
bit odd. You don't have to do this you know."

"I'd like to help with the project. What I suggest is this--we
feel free to talk about anything today. This project, fishing, how your new
people are working out..."

He laughed. "So far, so good. But they only had one
working day so it's too soon to tell. I do like them, though, and that's
something. You still haven't sent me an assistant, I noticed. Having trouble
filling the position?"

"Frankly, yes. But I think I have a potential match
lined up to see me next week."

"Sounds good." He took a sip of his drink. "This
tea is different but tasty."

She smiled at him. "Aside from the docks, have you ever
spent any time in town looking around?"

"No, I haven't. Always too busy."

"Let's start with the square then, and go on from
there."

"Lead the way."

* * * *

Jason followed her out to her car and said, "Why don't
we take mine? It's a convertible and I'll get more of a feel for things."