Page 81 of The House on Blueberry Lane

Velvet smiled. “I think that’s a good idea.”

WEBB GLANCED ACROSS his desk at the man who’d asked to see him. Al had graduated a few years earlier than he had, but he recalled that at one time Allen Bordeaux had been a hometown hero. He’d been picked by the Dodgers until a car accident shattered those dreams.

“So, what’s the reason for your visit, Al?”

The man leaned forward in his chair. “I think most of the men in town know of your interest in Velvet Spencer.”

“And?”

“And I think you forgot to tell the new banker.”

Webb paused. “Why do you say that?”

“Because I heard he purchased a prime piece of real estate on the gulf, valued at over a million dollars, in Reid Lacroix’s new development for Ms. Spencer.”

Webb sat up in his chair, surprised. “Who told you that?”

“I’d rather not say. But I just wanted you to know what kind of woman you’ve fallen in love with.” Allen Bordeaux checked his watch and stood. “I need to be going. The shifts change at the restaurant in an hour and one of my workers called in sick.”

Webb sat at his desk for a long while after Al left. First of all, he wasn’t in love with Velvet Spencer. Al was wrong about that. He would admit to being obsessed with having her in his bed, but only because she’d been the first woman he couldn’t get there easily.

He stood and walked to the window. His jaw tightened at the thought that all the time she’d been brushing him off, she’d had no problem hooking up with the new banker. He bet the two were already involved when he’d gone to the bank to warn Colfax off. That meant she began sleeping with Colfax not long after he moved to town. And it must be some hot and heavy affair for the man to put out that much money on property for her.

It wasn’t right that Colfax was getting a damn good roll between the sheets. A roll that Webb should be getting. Anyone in town knew not to get on a Crawford’s bad side and it was time he taught Ms. Spencer that lesson. He wished he could teach Jaye Colfax that same lesson, but he’d heard Reid Lacroix had personally approved of Colfax’s bank to take over Larsons Bank when Larson retired. Everyone in the cove knew that if Reid Lacroix—who was the wealthiest man in the cove—liked you, then the rest of Catalina Cove sure as hell better like you, too. Nobody in their right mind would want to cross Reid Lacroix. For that reason, he knew to leave Colfax alone, but Velvet Spencer was another matter.

Returning to his desk, he picked up the phone to call Dwight Beaks. Dwight was a member of the school board and Webb would bet there was something in a teacher’s contract about her receiving expensive gifts. If there was a violation of any sort on Velvet Spencer’s part, then Beaks would know about it. And if there wasn’t, then Beaks, with a little push from him, could find one that would fit.

“I DON’T THINK I’ve ever seen you so happy, Dean,” Jaye said to his brother. After attending yet another meeting about the Birmingham bank, they were on their way to grab dinner at one of the restaurants close by.

Dean, who was driving, chuckled as he slowed the car at a traffic light. “Lilly is everything I could ever want and we’re ideal for each other.” He continued driving and asked, “How are things going between you and Vel? You haven’t said.”

Jaye shrugged. “There’s really nothing to tell. I’m still trying to show her how much I love her.”

“Why don’t you just come out and tell her, Jaye?”

“Not sure she’s ready to hear it. In fact, there’s a chance she won’t believe me. When we were together, I did a very thorough job of convincing her I wasn’t capable of loving a woman.”

Dean raised an eyebrow. “Let me get this straight. Vel still doesn’t know she’s the reason you opened that bank in Catalina Cove in the first place?”

“No, she doesn’t know that. She doesn’t know I hired a PI to find her, either.” Jaye rubbed his hands down his face. “There are a number of other things I’ve done that she isn’t aware of as well.” One was the engagement ring he intended to give her and the land he’d purchased for a wedding present. The latter wasn’t contingent on her accepting the former. He would give her the land regardless.

“I don’t understand. You took her to the Keys last week. Why didn’t you tell her everything then? I’d think that was the perfect opportunity.”

Dean’s question reminded Jaye of what a wonderful time he’d shared with her, and his brother was right. It had been the perfect opportunity. In a way, it had been too perfect to ruin.

“Jaye?”

He glanced over at Dean. “Things were so perfect for us in Key Largo. I didn’t want to risk ruining things. I’m not sure how I would have handled it if she refused my love, Dean.”

“The way you refused hers.”

Jaye drew in a deep breath. “Yes, the way I refused hers,” he said softly.

Dean pulled into a parking spot and brought the car to a stop. He cut the engine and turned to Jaye. “Why are you letting what Mom did to us still stand in the way of your happiness? You went to see her and yet you’re still letting her run roughshod over your emotions.”

“You think that’s what’s happening?”

“Don’t you? After you tell Velvet that you love her, and she still needs time to accept that you really do, then by all means give it to her. I’d think, considering everything—especially your relationship before and all that crap you told her about not ever planning to fall in love—that you’d understand. It doesn’t mean you won’t stop trying to get her to fall in love with you or make her believe you love her. At least she’ll know how you feel and intend to do whatever it takes to make her part of your life again. This time not as your lover but your wife. Do you know what I’d do if I were you?”

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