A Traitor at Poppyridge Cove Page 3

  “Thanks for coming.” Emily stood in the dark doorway, holding a battery-operated candle in one hand. He couldn’t help but notice the way it reflected off her pretty face and danced off the curves of her lips.

  A bit entranced, he stumbled forward. “You’re welcome.” He noticed her eyes glance behind him, surely taking in the exotic car he’d arrived in. She lifted an eyebrow, and he could tell she was holding back a comment. There was the very real possibility she was only being nice to him so he could fix whatever was broken. His jaw tightened at the thought.

  There were a few guests settled in chairs and couches around the fire, and kids on the floor, playing cards by flashlight. “I’ll just go check things out in the garage first,” he offered.

  “Right.” Emily led the way, holding the candle out in front of her. She unlocked the door and handed him a flashlight from her pocket. “Do you need any help?”

  “Er—no.” He switched the flashlight on, scanning the garage. “Thanks.”

  She left him to it without another word, making him quite sure she hadn’t felt the same feelings as he had the day they met. Her hair was lighter now, a pale almost white-blonde that complimented her honey-and-cream skin.

  He checked the breaker quickly and closed the door.

  But then, when they’d been hiking, the air had been misty with fog. Perhaps it had dampened her hair enough to tint the color. It also left a dewy shine to her face.

  The pilot light in the water heater had gone out. He began the steps to relight it while remembering the way her movements had been so unique and beautiful, even when hiking. Even when she’d been angry. Even now. The way she’d held the door open, gliding back on her toes like a dance as he walked in. She was so graceful.

  The tiny flame lit up again, and he forced his thoughts back. There was just too much he didn’t know about her, and she obviously didn’t care to know anything more about him. So why was he obsessing?

  He caught sight of a long black cord in the beam of his flashlight. It was the power to the electrical box, and he quickly realized what was wrong. The plug had slipped from the outlet, hanging partway in. It was another easy fix, and he pushed it back, reminding himself to talk to Chase when he returned. These were routine fixes, things he should be checking on regularly if he wanted to have a well-functioning inn.

  Lively conversations could be heard from inside the house, which meant the lights had come on, and they were no doubt relieved not to spend the night in darkness and cold. Ryan tossed his tools in the bucket. He didn’t bother switching on the garage light, and instead went by flashlight, coming up the stairs and opening the door into a blindingly bright room.

  He squinted his eyes, blinking away the blotchy shock quickly, just in time to bump into the wall. He steadied his feet, confused, only to stumble to the side and bump his shoulder into the opposite wall. When a child shrieked, he felt his stomach sinking like a lead weight.

  In a slow-motion flash, he saw the massive chandelier swaying high above the group, and Emily standing with her arms stretched out as if to balance herself. The windows trembled, and the house groaned, fighting with a turbulent force from deep underground. He saw panic in each and every eye.

  “Stay calm,” he yelled, reaching the group in a few wobbly steps. “It’s an earthquake but don’t panic. We need to stay clear of the windows and chandelier.”

  Emily’s wild eyes focused on him, and she nodded before taking a visible breath. “This way,” she said, moving to the base of the stairs and holding onto the handrail.

  Two parents walked by Ryan, each with a small child in their arms. Another child held onto the mother’s shirt, silent tears streaking down her face.

  Ryan scooped her up. “I got ya, it’s okay.” He followed her parents, who cast him thankful glances through their fear.

  The group huddled together, all the while glancing around the room—the chandelier, the trees outside, and the ocean beyond them. It seemed like the shaking went on forever. Ryan could hear the ocean crashing, and the windows creaked. He pleaded the house would hold together just as it had for decades.

  There was the sound of shattering as something fell in the kitchen. The father beside him reached out and took the small girl from him, thanking him while struggling to hold all his children in his arms at once. Ryan knew what he was feeling, and his heart surged to see the love between the young family. They huddled together, kneeling down on the floor and offering a prayer. Some of the guests bowed their heads, and some only watched. But whether participating or not, a calm washed through the space.

  “How long do you think it’s been?” Emily asked. Ryan hadn’t noticed her standing beside him. She looked down at the family still praying, and when she looked up again, he could see the shine in her blue-gray eyes.

  Again, he felt it, as strong as he had before, and couldn’t resist his complete desire to comfort her. He wrapped his arm around her slender shoulders. “Not long,” he answered. “A couple minutes, maybe.” Her head came to rest on his arm, and he swallowed, daring to hold her the smallest bit closer.

  “It’ll be okay,” he said, bringing both arms around her and resting his cheek atop her head. Her hair smelled of honey and vanilla, and he could feel her body trembling, although it seemed to calm as he held her. But the next moment, the guests began conversations, and the earthquake drifted off just as quickly as it started, leaving him to wonder if it was only relief that had steadied her shaking.

  He let her go, stepping away and allowing one hand to trail along her back and rest briefly on her arm. It was a small gesture that had his heart pounding. Her beauty was something he’d never completely taken in before, at least not from so close. Not when he was alert with shock. Now he looked back at her and noticed it all, from the delicate pout of her lips and the way her short blonde hair fell across her forehead, to the wide set of her incredible eyes. They were stormy and dark, almost hiding the blue completely in the shadows of gray. She was remarkably beautiful.

  Someone coughed, and his attention turned back to the group, their eyes wide with fear. He turned back to Emily. “Is there an emergency radio?”

  She let out a breath, brushing her hair from her eyes. “Yes. I’ll get it.”

  Watching her leave sent a small panic attack through him. What if there was an aftershock? He couldn’t stand the thought of having her so far away. He felt nearly desperate by the time she returned, although it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, glancing across his face. He tried to push his emotions back into check, but he could hardly speak. He settled with nodding his head.

  For the rest of the evening, he stayed close to her, although he tried not to make it too obvious. The whole group was huddled together with a dozen cell phones aglow when they first heard the radio announcement of the 4.5 magnitude earthquake with no risk of tsunami. There was a collective sigh of relief. But Ryan knew the risk of possible aftershocks was always high.

  He’d experienced it before. He’d been a polo team captain when an aftershock had hit his small Southern California town. Everyone had gotten out of the pool quickly except for his best friend, who’d been sucked to the bottom when a crack had split the hard concrete base. Ryan had ignored everyone and jumped in with his eyes wide open, witnessing the terror on his friend’s face as the look of someone who knew they were about to die. He’d wrenched his friend from the water’s grip just in time.

  “Should we put out the fire, do you think?” Emily asked. She held a mug in each hand. “Here.” She handed one to him.

  Ryan’s thoughts jumped back to the present, and he glanced around them. The room had become a slumber party of blankets and pillows, everyone nervous to separate. “Thank you.” He took the warm cup of cocoa and breathed in the fragrance, sitting beside Emily and gazing with her into the fireplace as it crackled. “I think it’ll be fine to let it burn out.”

  He enjoyed the way the firelight pulsed again
st Emily’s skin. She watched the flames in a trance, and he guessed she was becoming lost in her thoughts as well.

  “Thank you for coming out,” she spoke quietly and still stared into the fire. “I’m…” She looked back at him, and Ryan was suddenly very conscious of how close together their chairs were. “I’m really glad you were here today.” She reached her hand out cautiously and rested it on top of his, squeezing his hand.

  It tingled at her touch, and he held her gaze with his heart pressing against his ribs. She was staring back at him with an expression he wasn’t sure he understood. If it was any other girl, he would have kissed her already, but not Emily. It wasn’t until she leaned in and her eyes brushed closed that he realized in a shocked instant that she was going to kiss him.

  Static cut through the room, and a news anchor’s energetic voice boomed. Emily flinched back and stood suddenly, and Ryan twisted in his chair to see the gray-haired man adjusting the radio.

  “…aftershocks will likely be too small to feel, although caution should be used when inspecting your home and property.”

  He glanced at Emily. She lowered back in her chair and took a sip of cocoa, and the moment drifted away. Ryan drank his cocoa quickly, anxious to be heading home. He’d helped with the repairs and, somehow, had become completely tangled in confusion. Was Emily attracted to him, or was it just a reaction to the stress? Did she hate him or care about him? He had no idea. He just wanted to create some distance between them long enough to clear his head. If there was a chance she’d changed her opinion of him, why had she looked at his car like it was obscenity itself?

  The room was quiet around them with some of the guests already asleep, and Emily had taken control of the radio, holding it to her ear quietly so as not to disturb anyone.

  Ryan walked softly to the kitchen, setting his cup in the sink and gathering his things.

  “Are you leaving, then?” Emily’s voice startled him, and he jerked up. The hint of a smile lingered on her face, as if she was genuinely happy in his presence.

  He let out a breath. “I need to get back,” he confessed. “I didn’t bring anything with me and should probably check on my place anyway… I’m supposed to head in to work tomorrow.” He added the last part spontaneously. It really didn’t matter when or if he ever “went in to work” since he could pretty much run the company online, anyway. He’d planned to spend the day helping with his mother’s fundraiser for low-income schools, but saying that to Emily would feel like bragging… He’d already seen what her reaction would be to that.

  “Okay, well thanks again.” Emily walked out the front door with him, and this time he could clearly see the expression on her face at his car.

  He felt the sudden need to explain that it was a gift from a slightly vindictive relative, and that giving it back or selling it would be taking sides. But a wave of irritation flared inside his chest. Why should he need to explain that to her? Couldn’t she see who he was? What did it matter what he drove?

  “You’re welcome,” he said, more curtly than he’d meant to. He could see her react a bit, the surprise flashing across her face. It was all so confusing with too many emotions battling inside him. He pulled the door open to find the seatbelt had been jammed in it. With a grim realization, he turned the ignition only to hear the last dying sounds of the battery groaning.

  Emily walked closer. “The battery?”

  “Yeah.” Ryan sighed. “I left the door open by mistake.” He dropped his head back onto the seat.

  “I’ve got charging cables—”

  “No.” Ryan didn’t want to finish, but he forced himself to say the words. “You can’t charge a Lamborghini, it needs to be taken into the dealer.” He let out a deep breath, staring at the ceiling. “If I tried to charge it and drive home, the engine would stall and lock up in a couple miles, and I’d be stranded.”

  She snorted and he lifted his head from the seat, staring at her incredulously. Her hand was over her mouth as she unsuccessfully tried to stave off her laughter. It infuriated him. No doubt she was chanting “spoiled rich boy” over and over in her head like a new mantra to guide her life.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, hardly appearing sincere as she laughed through the words. “But why on earth would anyone buy something like that? For the price of a house, you can get a toy car that breaks just as easily as any dollar store gift.”

  “Okay, I get it.” Ryan held a hand up, hoping she would stop.

  “You can’t charge a Lamborghini?” Her voice had risen, but she glanced at his face and managed to calm herself at least a little. “It just seems so symbolic to me, you know? Like the Titanic or—”

  “Ugh, okay!” He hadn’t meant to shout; it had just burst out of him. And the consequences were immediate. Her eyes set into a glare as vicious as any he’d ever seen.

  “Hey, if you can’t take it, why did you buy the stupid thing?” Her cheeks were flushed, and she looked deeply offended, although with her, it always seemed to come out as anger.

  “Listen, I’m sorry to raise my voice, but let me just tell you one thing.” He stepped out of the useless car and closed the door properly this time before facing her. “You think you know me. I can see that. Spoiled rich boy meets the real world, right?” He tried to keep the anger off his face, but he could feel his forehead tensing. “You know nothing about me.”

  His heart broke as he looked back at her. It wasn’t even clear if she’d listened to anything he’d said, but she’d certainly paid attention to how he’d said it. If there was any chance she had feelings for him, he was positive he’d just managed to force every last one from her. The only thing left in her eyes was disgust.

  Chapter 4

  Emily didn’t bother answering Ryan after his little rant. She merely told him she had to check on the guests and left him with his worthless car. In the deepest part of her mind, she knew she was being unfair. The thought pricked at her, but she refused to relent. He seemed so eerily similar to her boyfriend during freshman year of college that she couldn’t stand the thought of being fooled again.

  She’d been so young and had allowed herself to become caught up in all the glitter of her new boyfriend’s life. Exotic cars, private jets… it wasn’t until she hacked his phone and saw his social media feed that she realized he was toying with her. And a few other girls too. She’d noticed something then and hadn’t let herself forget it. It was the mere fact that his incredible distance from most people’s reality had allowed him to see everyone around him as objects instead of individuals. It had taken her years to get over the humiliation, and she’d been happy to leave college as soon as possible, ready to startup her marketing business and leave him in the past.

  A rumble of snoring brought her out of her thoughts, and she glanced around her, not sure how long she’d been standing frozen at the top of the stairs. She felt a presence that tingled along the back of her neck and swung around to see Ryan watching her just inside the front door, the shadows giving his handsome face an entirely new depth. A sleek strength she couldn’t help but admire; it was what had drawn her in when she’d nearly kissed him. With a little warmth filling her cheeks, she escaped to her room, anxious to be away from his alluring face.

  The morning brought relief for the entire group, since the dozen aftershocks during the night had been too small to be felt. After a cheerful slew of morning news reports appearing on phone screens and announced by radio, conversations had livened immediately, some guests even starting off on hikes through the redwoods. It was a beautiful day with sunshine and warmer than usual temperatures, and Emily felt the need to celebrate. She headed toward the kitchen to whip up some of her famous buttermilk pancakes.

  She passed the fireplace chairs and memories of the night before flooded in. The rush of emotion she’d felt so suddenly, so strongly. Half a second away from kissing him. But lucky for her, they’d been distracted. It would have made for an awkward morning, especially after arguing about his car.

&
nbsp; She caught sight of a disheveled head from behind a fireplace chair and stepped around to see Ryan slumped down and fast asleep, looking entirely uncomfortable.

  Her hand came to her mouth as she realized she’d left him with nothing. Not a pillow, or blankets, or even a place to lie down. She cringed, feeling like a complete jerk. And here she’d been accusing him of being the arrogant one, when she was likely passing him up in that competition. After a moment of hesitation, she reached out and tapped his shoulder.

  His eyes flew open, and he sat up with a grimace on his face, rolling his shoulders and stretching his neck side to side. “Yeah?” His voice was soft and graveled with sleep. “Is there something wrong?”

  “No, no,” Emily assured him, feeling increasingly horrible. “I’m just… “She pointed upstairs, feeling awkward, although she wasn’t sure why. “There’s a pullout couch in the den upstairs if you’d like to sleep there for a while. I’m sure you’re tired. And everyone is going to be up and making noise here any minute.”

  He blinked a couple times, and although his face drooped with exhaustion, she was pretty sure he was still awake.

  “Um…” He stretched, and his tangled-up shirt lifted to show a glimpse of his middle. Surprisingly tan and crowded with the well-formed muscle of someone who lived an active life, his abs were toned and lean. Definitely not the lazy, spoiled heir she’d taken him for.

  Emily swallowed, trying to tear her eyes away by the time he looked back at her.

  “Actually, yeah. I really need some sleep.” Ryan looked reluctant and almost embarrassed to admit it. “I think I’ll take you up on that offer if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course.” Emily’s stomach had turned to a pit of regret. How could she have just left him with nothing all night? When had she become such a resentful person?