Serenity's Deception (Texas Sorority Sisters Book 1) (12 page)

T
h
e transition went smooth. Two days ago, the movers had come and gone but BJ was homesick for Galveston and her art gallery. Though her studio was set up and all her things in place, BJ felt she had nothing to keep her busy—well, she could work, but right now she needed a distraction other than work.

She knew her manager at the studio was perfectly capable of handling everything in her absence, still BJ would have rather been in her small cottage on the beach than in this palatial mansion. It didn’t feel like home. She missed her morning jog on the beach, the pounding surf in her ears, her evening strolls with the sound of the seagulls. Would she ever get used to this place?

Unwilling to mope around, BJ—camera bag and tripod in hand, for the last couple of days—set out to explore the estate grounds. After all, if she owned the property, she might as well find out what belonged to her.

Completely disinterested in the manicured lawns and flower beds on the estate, she hunted for natural beauty in unsuspected places. She hadn’t been disappointed, more like surprised that a good share of the grounds was left natural and unspoiled.

Dragging her equipment, she made the rounds of the property—early morning and before dusk. There were plenty occasions to use her camera as she walked the fifty or so acres surrounding the house, all a part of Rose Mansion according to Sidney.

Whimsical spots, wild and untamed. A clear stream, luscious with growth, trickled across a riverbed of pebbles, over boulders creating a small, cascading waterfall. There were numerous fields overflowing with wild flowers, even a small forest that opened up into a field of golden winter wheat ready for harvest. She captured it all with her lens. These offerings gave her innate ability to capture God’s beauty but also lifted her spirits.

The walking paths were well-kept and cleared with many small trails darting off the beaten path in different directions, and she explored them all. And yet throughout all her traipsing about, she hadn’t once set eyes on Jason. For that she was thankful and, if truthful, a tiny bit disappointed.

This evening she headed for the pond. The clouds, sun, and impending dust held the right combination for photographs that could ultimately end up in her studio. Times like these are why BJ loved her profession.

The sunset shimmered off the lake as the clouds stretched across the horizon. Pinkish-red hues of color filled the sky reflecting off the water. Everything at its optimum offered the best possible setting for her to capture.

She took a few minutes to consider the angle, found the exact spot before she sat up her tripod and camera. After focusing, her finger pressed the button as the lens captured the beauty.

Click, click, click, click, click, click
.

The rapid succession of her shutter, the deep throat call of the frog with the crickets chirping around her, sounded like a symphony. A moment in time never to be witnessed again, except by her pictures.

Tonight, the pond exhibited one of the best offerings of the last two days. She already had in mind the medium she would use for these pictures. A half dozen unexpected mallard ducks, in various stages, landed on the water, came to rest with ripples surrounded them until the water once again was still and calm. BJ couldn’t contain her excitement.

“Yes!” Her fist jabbed the air.

BJ realized she wasn’t alone when she heard a man’s low rumble of laughter. Jerking around, her hand on her throat, heart racing, she found Jason leaning against a large oak watching her. Hands in his pants pockets, broad smile in place, let her know he enjoyed catching her private moment of uninhibited joy.

“It’s you.” She released her breath. Relieved that Jason and not someone else stood there caused BJ to relax, then her temper spiked. “I didn’t hear you approach.”

Palms on hips she said, “You scared me half to death. Don’t ever walk up on me like that again. Announce yourself.” Earlier when she imagined someone was watching that must have been Jason.

He sobered. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to. I enjoyed watching you so entranced with your camera.”

“How long have you been there?”

A lazy grin spread across his face, his eyes reflecting the color of the sky. “A few minutes.” His smooth drawl soothed her anxious heart.

He pulled away from the tree and advanced toward her at a slow easy pace. The closer he got, the more she trembled which caused a small crack in the foundation of her defenses. She dampened her overactive hormones.

He’s married. Keep it casual.

“I saw you from the terrace and watched up there for a while. Finally decided I’d come see what you were doing.”

Plastering a smile on her face, she stepped back from her tripod and motioned to the vast scene before them. “The sunset.” She yanked her head in the direction of her camera. “Wanna take a look?”

Good. Friendly. Casual. That’s the way to treat him.

Jason moved up to the Nikon. She gave him even more space by moving back another couple of feet. Her gaze never left his profile as he leaned over, placing his eye against the viewfinder. The very same spot hers had been minutes earlier. His clean fresh essence, mingled with a light musk, assailed her senses.

“Wow. Some shot.” He glanced over at her for a second then back through the viewfinder. “Amazing.” Straightening, he turned his focus toward her. “You got a filter on the lens?”

She was impressed he knew something about photography. “Yeah. A polarizing filter. Makes everything pop. The pictures come out dazzling. Alive.”

“I would say so. My naked eye couldn’t see what your camera just picked out. Incredible.”

BJ smiled, pleased with his interest in her work.

As a move-in gift to his wife, she’d give them one of her prints of this very shot.

“I understand you’re all moved in and settled.”

Shocked that he would know her private affairs, BJ wanted to tell him it was none of his business. Of course he would know. They both would have to be moved in by the fifteenth and today was the seventeenth. However, she’d take this breach of her privacy up with the staff. They shouldn’t be reporting her moves to him. It was her house, her staff after all.

Placing a neutral tone in her voice, she did her best to sound unaffected by his statement. “Yes, quite settled. If you’ll excuse me. The sun sets quickly, and I want to take a few more pictures.”

He stepped back. She moved to her camera, and after adjusting her lens, the shutter clicked rapidly as the fast descending colors turned darker and turned into shades of blues, purples, and grays.

BJ tried to ignore Jason standing close by. His admiration of her work did more to her unruly heart than she cared to admit.

Tomorrow she would go off the estate. There’d be no repeat of tonight.

W
ho put a burr under her blanket?

Jason couldn’t think of anything he’d said that would cause the abrupt change in her attitude. One minute friendly … the next as frosty as an A&W root beer.

Women … He’ll never understand them, especially this one.

Though playing with fire, he couldn’t resist. Her silhouette against the backdrop of the sunset was too much for him … that and his curiosity. When her intense absorption of her work caused her not to hear his approach, he couldn’t help himself. He stood and watched, getting a feel for what she was like after so many years, before she shielded her eyes and fettered her thoughts. He wanted to see if the real Billy Jo were still inside. The one he’d fallen in love when he was but a kid.

What drove her to seek out the setting sun, or for that matter, the rising sun? He knew she did because he saw her from his bedroom window the first morning heading out before sunrise, then he purposely waited and watched for her on the second day, and she did the same. Sitting in the room he’d picked for his office, he observed her doing the same both times in the evening also.

For the last two days, bag slung over her shoulder, tripod and camera in hand, he observed BJ wondering into the woods, though he thought it foolhardy of her going off alone. He wanted to follow, but wouldn’t allow himself until tonight. Tonight, he couldn’t resist following.

Jason backed up to the tree he had vacated, resumed his same stance, his gaze never leaving her profile. He loved her excitement earlier when she didn’t know he was around. He’d often heard the term
one with nature
but didn’t understand its meaning until tonight.

However, now her body language was different—rigid, aware of him watching. She wasn’t near as relaxed or so in tune with her surroundings. He could tell she was well aware of his presence even though he had been careful not to make a sound.

Sunset spent, BJ bent to open the case at her feet. He once again pulled away from the gnarled oak and moved toward her.

“May I help you carry your equipment to the house?” Innocent enough, but he saw her stiffen. Knew she wanted to refuse. Although dusk was almost complete and the brilliant sky colors were replaced with the twilight of beginning night, his intense scrutiny of her revealed a flicker of uncertainty. She gave him a smile that was neither friendly nor antagonistic—if anything, indifferent.

“Sure.” She held out the tripod. The camera had already been removed and placed safely in its carrier. She snapped the case shut, securing the lock, then picked up the bag.

“Let me carry that. It must be heavy.”

“No, thanks. I’m used to lugging this thing around everywhere I go.” She offered a smile.

He wanted to argue, but something told him she wouldn’t appreciate his efforts or loosen her grip.

Their walk up the hill to the veranda was in total darkness except the occasional escape of the moon from behind the clouds. Her face in darkness now, he could barely make out her expression, but her vibes were loud and clear. Passively friendly and cool, if not downright cold.

“Do you do this very often?” He didn’t know why he was trying to make her talk but he couldn’t help himself.

“What.” She turned to look at him then gazed straight ahead toward The Rose.

“Tramping around by yourself at night?”

Her little laugh made jelly of his insides.

“Have to. It’s my job. Can’t get the shots I got tonight if I’m not out after dark.”

“I would think it would be dangerous, a woman out at night—alone. You know, easy prey to the demented and depraved.” He didn’t like his line of thinking one bit, nor her being out alone without defense. Fear twisted his gut.

“Never had a problem before. I do carry though when I’m out away from town.”

“You … carry?” Jason wasn’t sure he heard her correctly. “A gun?”

Her unreserved laughter filled him and he didn’t want the sound to stop. “Sure do. Never had a cause to use it. But if I do, I will.”

He couldn’t believe she had a gun and knew how to use the thing. “Have you had—?”

“Training?” She gave out an unlady-like snort, causing him to grin. “You bet. And a permit to carry. I go to a firing range several times a year just to keep up my skills.”

“Incredible.”

“Why? Because I’m a woman?”

He heard the scorn in her voice, but trudged on. “Well, there is that.” He didn’t know why he couldn’t get his head around Billy Jo carrying around a loaded gun, but a lone female … just might not be so dumb after all. “I’ll just have to remember to never sneak up on you again. I might come up a toe or two short.”

He listened to her sweet laughter curling and twisting around his heart. He had the overwhelming urge to grab her up close, swing her around in the air as he used to do, bury his face in the sweet smell of her hair. He pulled himself up short and snuffed out such ridiculous thoughts.
Get your brain on straight. This is Billy Jo—BJ you’re thinking about.

“More likely, a leg or arm. Although I could pierce your heart. I’m just that good.”

No. You’ve already done that once. And you were … just that good.

 “I’ll make sure I stay clear from now on.” He did his best to make it sound like a joke by emitting a short laugh. But for his own sanity, he knew he would make a rule staying clear of BJ.

They reached the lighted terrace and a gaze over at her told Jason what he already knew. She was worming her way back into his heart and he didn’t like it one bit.
No, sir. Not one little bit.

The gold of her hair glowed in the moonlight. Merriment sparkled in her eyes. And if he didn’t leave pretty quick he’d be caught and tied up like a steer for branding … something he swore would never happen again—especially with Billy Jo.

He pulled his eyes away from her face and looked toward the side entrance off the patio. He held out the tripod wanting to make good his escape, but not wanting the reason for his quick flight obvious. “I’ve got some paperwork to do.”

When she took the thing from his grasp, he smiled. He turned for the side entrance, and over his shoulder as casual as his voice would allow him, he called, “Have a good night. See you around sometime.”

“Goodnight.”

Though he didn’t run, he felt like he was being chased by a pack of hungry coyotes, and he couldn’t get to his suite fast enough. Billy Jo, BJ, or whatever she’s calling herself these days, wasn’t included in his future. Any further meetings like tonight wouldn’t bode well for his plans.

He would avoid her like poison oak. The memory of the last time he met head-on with that tenacious plant … he almost died. BJ was much more dangerous.