Unlikely Love: A Hot, Romantic Suspense Series: Book 1 (The Carlisle Sisters) (8 page)

“Maggie?”  Tracy asked.

“She’s the ecologist who keeps our pools and hot tubs regulated,” Grey said.  “She’s top notch and wouldn’t have missed something as big as foreign bacteria in the pool water.”

“Then the pool was tampered with after her last visit,” Jen said.

“Exactly,” Grey replied.

“We’ve got to catch this guy before he does really serious harm,” Tracy said.

“Like
kill
someone?”  Jen suggested soberly.

Everyone was silent.  No one wanted to verbally confirm what they were thinking.  It was too horrific to entertain.

“We have to tell Beth,” Tracy said.

“Oh my God!  Beth said she was going to go lie out and get some sun,” Jen cried.

“She could have gone in the pool,” Tracy said in alarm.

Grey was seemingly out of the door before anyone else had taken one step.  He ran across the resort to The Blue Lagoon pool and scanned the area.  He didn’t see Beth.  Jen and Tracy caught up to him.

“Do you see her?”  Tracy asked anxiously.

“No.  Maybe she’s at the smaller pool,” Grey said.

“The River Water pool is more secluded.  She could have gone there to have a little more peace,” Jen said.

“Let’s go,” he said curtly.

Grey didn’t mean to be abrupt but he was concerned about Beth. They walked briskly to The River Water pool and immediately saw Beth resting in a cabana, reading a book.  They ran to her.

“Beth!”  Grey yelled.

Beth looked up and saw Grey and her two sisters running toward her.  Concern was etched on their faces.  She wondered what was wrong.

“What is it,” Beth asked as they arrived at her cabana.

“Have you been in the pool?  Did you swim?”  Grey asked urgently.

“Yes.  I swam a few laps a little while ago.  Why?  What’s going on?”  Beth answered.

Tracy explained what had happened with the resorts guests.

“My God!  Was anyone seriously hurt?”  Beth asked.

“No.  But they all have bacterial infections.  The infirmary is swamped with patients,” Grey said.

“We have to close all of the pools,” Beth said in alarm.

“That’s already underway.  I had Cissy notify Jake,” Grey said.  “We need to get you to the infirmary to be checked out.”

Beth looked at her bare arms and legs and they were clear of a rash.

“I think I’m fine.  I haven’t broken out,” Beth said.

“You need to be checked anyway.  It may take a while to appear and we need to be safe,” Tracy said in concern.

“Okay,” Beth replied.

Grey helped her off of the lounge chair just as Jake came into the pool area.  He raised a blow horn to his mouth and told the two people that were swimming to exit the pool.  Then his maintenance team put orange cones around the perimeter of the pool.

“I need to help Jake,” Grey told the sisters.

“We will take Beth to the infirmary while you handle things here.  We’ll meet you back at the office,” Tracy said.

“Alright.  See you then,” he said.

Grey moved to speak with Jake and the ladies looked at each other uneasily.

“Someone is trying to ruin us.  Who could it be?”  Beth asked fretfully.

“I don’t know.  But first things first.  Let’s get you checked out by Dr. Burriss; then we can try to make sense of it all later,” Tracy said.

They hurried to the infirmary.

*****

Beth rolled her suitcase into the cabin and set the bags she had draped over her shoulders onto the glass top dining table. Then she collapsed onto the sofa and took a deep breath. It had been a long, tiring day.

When she’d arrived at the infirmary it was busting at the seams with guests who were in line to see the doctor ahead of her. She waited as patiently as she could with such a crisis going on, not wanting to throw her status as new owner of The Sea View around.  For one, it wouldn’t look good if she were to demand attention before her ailing guests.  Plus, she wasn’t even sure if she needed to be there. Her skin was as normal as ever, if a bit more red from her brief stint in the sun.

When she finally did see the doctor, he’d been short and clipped. He’d told her that she most likely hadn’t been infected because she didn’t have any signs and she hadn’t swum in the Blue Lagoon pool. Obviously, she was to return if a rash appeared and, otherwise, she was free to go about her business.

And what a business it was.  With love affairs between those in charge and a maniac on the loose.  Not to mention the tension that was still palpable between Beth and Jennifer.

The sisters left the infirmary and returned to the offices where they spoke with Maggie and her team about the issue with the pool. Maggie confirmed what they had suspected: someone
had
infected the water in the Blue Lagoon with pathogenic bacteria. They were still testing the River Water pool, as well as every other potentially contaminated location at the resort but, so far, the rest had been found free of corruption.

After Maggie left the office there had been a meeting with the department heads to tighten protocols in each resort area. That meeting had been long and involved but quite necessary. And, when it was over, Beth had finally been able to go to the hotel and pack her belongings.

Tracy was teary-eyed when Beth was leaving but Jen had been blasé about it. Not that Beth had expected anything more from Jen. Nor did she deceive herself by thinking that Jen cared one way or the other about where Beth lived or what she did.  She was far too self-absorbed for that.

Beth was overly excited at the prospect of eating the BLT sandwich she’d brought for her first dinner in the cabin; along with a chilled glass of the Asti Spumanti that Grey had left buried in ice on the side table.  She wondered when he’d had time to drop it off with everything else that was going on.

She got up and retrieved her sandwich from one of the brown bags on the table. Then she uncorked the wine and poured a bubbly glass. Stepping out onto the porch, she sat in the rocker and gazed out onto the water while eating her dinner.

Beth adored the peaceful tranquility of her surroundings. She felt like she could breathe here at the cabin. She knew she had a million and one things that she should be thinking about; but for right now she needed to just relax and breathe. She finished her sandwich and laid her head back against the chair.

With her eyes closed, she tried to forget the terrible things that were happening at the resort; if only for a few minutes. She didn’t know how long she been sitting there quietly when she heard footsteps crunching their way toward her from the clearing. And when she quickly opened her eyes. she saw Grey approaching the porch. His stride was slow and he appeared tired. She stood and waited at the top of the stars for him.

“Grey,” she said softly as he stepped onto the porch. “You look tired.”

“I am. May I stay for a while?” he asked in a husky voice.

“Of course. Come sit with me,” she suggested.

She led him to the swing glider and they cuddled together. Grey breathed deeply as he relaxed. With his arm wrapped around her, she placed her head on his chest. He rested his chin on the top of her head. And, together, they felt as though that was how it was supposed to be.

Comfortable. Safe. Secure. They gazed out at the water; each caught up in their own thoughts.

“Grey?”

“Hmm,” he answered.

“Why is this happening? I mean, the sabotage. Why
now
? If someone wanted to get back at Jonas, you would think they’d have done so when he was still alive,” she said quietly. “Why do it now that he’s gone?”

“It makes no sense, I know. And I haven’t got a clue what their logic could be,” he responded. “But my gut tells me that the perpetrator is someone who wants to even a score with Jonas; and they                                                                                                                                                                                                                       don’t care that he’s dead. They want to destroy his legacy, thereby destroying his name.”

“Well, his name doesn’t really count for much. Everyone knew what a horrible person Jonas was. He went to his grave with that dubious distinction,” Beth said.

“But the one decent thing he did was to give The Sea View to his daughters. I believe he realized his mistakes and was trying to make amends by bringing his girls together to share in his one achievement,” Grey mused.

“And in doing so, bring the daughters back together as loving siblings,” Beth said. “It’s a wonderful sentiment if only the daughters
wanted
to come together. I’m not sure that we do.”

“You mean you’re not sure that
you
do,” he said softly. “I know that Tracy wants all of you to be close again. But what about you? Is that something you want?”

“Tracy and I are good,” she said.

“And you and Jennifer? How are the two of you?” he asked.

“Most times we want to rip the hair from the other’s heads. Jen and I are just different people who aren’t meant to spend time together,” Beth sighed.

“Perhaps you could do something about that,” he suggested.

“It takes two to want to reconcile,” she pointed out.

“But it only takes one to extend the olive branch. I believe I saw such a branch lying around in the cabin not too long ago,” he grinned.

“If it’s there it’s because you put it there. Why do you care so much?” she asked curiously.

“Because I care about you, Beth Carlisle. And I want to see you truly happy. And that will only happen when you are reunited with your sisters,” he said gently. She looked into his face and was bedazzled by the clarity in his clear grey eyes. He lifted her chin with his thumb. “You’re beginning to mean a great deal to me, sweetheart. More than I ever thought possible.”

He bent his head and kissed her gently. It was a feather light kiss that spoke volumes.

“May I stay, Beth?” he asked hoarsely. “Just to sleep with you. I want to lie next to you and fall asleep in your arms. Can I do that?”

Beth had never had such a sweet request asked of her. It almost made her cry in its purity.

“Yes. Please stay,” she whispered.

They stood and moved into the cabin and straight to the bedroom. They readied for bed and got under the light sheet and blanket. Grey pulled her into his arms and she rested her head on his shoulder. She kissed his neck and together they slept peacefully.

*****

Tracy fluffed her hair as she spied herself in the mirror.  The bandage had finally been removed from her head and she could style her blond, wavy hair again.  She brushed it vigorously until the streaks of gold glistened.  Then she left her room and headed to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee.  From there she could hear Jen singing, off-tune, in the shower.

Nothing made Jen happier than when she had a man in her life.  Jarod had come to the suite for dinner last night and they’d had a wonderful time together.  Jarod was talkative, funny and intelligent.  He seemed to be a solid and stable man, which was what Jen needed in her life. 

The suite’s phone rang and Tracy moved to answer it.

“Hello?”

“We’ve got trouble,” Amber, the hotel manager, said from the other end of the line.

Tracy groaned.

“What now?”  Tracy moaned.

“The guests that contracted the bacterial infection are demanding their money back.  It’s at least seventy of them insisting on a refund.  What should I do?”  Amber asked, panicked.

“Tell them we’re on our way,” Tracy said.

She hung up the phone annoyed and worried.  Then she called out.

“Jennifer!  Jen!”

Jen came into the room wearing her robe and a towel wrapped around head.

“What is it?  Jeez, where’s the fire?”  Jen whined without even realizing what she’d said.

“I have to go downstairs.  There’s a mob of people demanding their money back after being infected in the pool,” Tracy said.

“Oh good grief!  They were swimming at their own risk,” Jen huffed.

“Don’t be ridiculous!  We have to pacify them.  Get dressed.  And hurry,” Tracy ordered.

“I have a date with Jarod and I’m not going to break it because some people had an itch,” Jen said stubbornly.

Tracy couldn’t believe her ears.  Of all times for Jen to be self-absorbed and petulant.  She didn’t have time for this.

“Get dressed, Jen.  You’re coming with me,” Tracy insisted.  “This is as much
your
resort as it is Beth’s and mine.  You have an obligation to address our paying visitors’ concerns.”

“Take Beth with you.  She’s the one who wanted to run this place so badly.  Let her deal with the problems,” Jen retorted.

Jen turned and marched back into her bedroom.  Tracy was struck speechless.  She couldn’t believe Jen could be so selfish and uncaring.  At that moment she totally understood Beth’s problem with Jen.

She didn’t have time to argue with Jen or to dwell on her bad attitude.  She needed to get downstairs.  She grabbed her cell and dialed Beth as she entered the elevator.  It went to voice mail.  She left an urgent message.

“Damn!”  she muttered.  “I guess I’m on my own with this mess.”

The elevator arrived to the lobby all too soon.  Tracy stepped out of the elevator and gasped at the chaos.  There was a mass of people crowded around the reception desk, all talking and yelling at once.  Others were scattered throughout the lobby shouting their grievances to no one in particular.  Tracy swallowed deeply then began walking toward the reception desk.

“Tracy!”

Tracy turned to find Beth hurrying toward her.  She exhaled.

“Thank God!  I thought I would have to face this mob alone,” Tracy sighed.

“Where’s Jen?”  Beth asked perplexed.

“She refused to come,” Tracy said irritably.

“What?  How could she—never mind.  We don’t have time to discuss Jen,” Beth said in annoyance.  “I received a call from Amber about all of this and came right away.”

“So did I.  What are we going to tell them?”  Tracy asked in despair.

“Well, I thought we could offer a free three-day weekend at The Sea View to everyone who was affected; which, between those who actually
got
the rash and the rest who simply couldn’t use the pools since then, is practically everyone.  But, while it’s an expensive prospect, it would be a sincere way to apologize for the incident,” Beth said.  “What do you think?”