Lucky Break

CHAPTER SIX

LAUREN FOLLOWED Jason and Edward Corwin out to Jason’s car with Edward mumbling the entire way. It didn’t help that the cat was settled on Jason’s hood like a king.

“It’s another sign, I tell you,” Edward muttered, pointing to the black ornament.

“Is it yours?” Jason asked Lauren.

“In a manner of speaking. He came with the house.”

Jason glanced over his shoulder at her. “Can you get him off?”

Lauren shrugged. She wondered if a cat would come when called. Of course, it didn’t matter since she didn’t know his name.

“Come on, Cat!”

The feline didn’t budge.

What she didn’t know about cats could fill volumes. She’d already given the cat diarrhea. What next? “I’m sure he’ll jump off when you start the car.”

“Don’t want that thing near me any more than I want a dang Perkins near me,” Edward said. “Should have brought Stinky Pete with me, I tell you.”

“Who’s Stinky Pete?” she asked Jason, all the while reminding herself not to take a demented man’s ravings seriously.

“The pet skunk he uses to keep people away,” Jason said, shooting her a look that clearly said, Don’t ask.

After settling his uncle in the passenger seat, Jason turned back and walked over to Lauren and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry,” he said, tilting his head toward the car.

She shook her head. “It’s not your fault. Go take care of him. He obviously needs you.”

And she needed to forget the sight of Jason leading his uncle to the car, taking charge and caring for the older man. She’d come too close to kissing him moments earlier. Noticing his warm, caring nature wouldn’t allow her to keep a safe emotional distance.

Luckily, as soon as Jason started the engine, the cat raised its head-haughtily, in Lauren’s opinion-and jumped off the hood, clearly annoyed.

Lauren tried not to laugh. She’d never realized a feline could have such an uppity disposition.

The car backed out of the driveway, slowing down as Jason opened the window. “I’ll be back soon,” he promised.

She nodded.

“Are you sure you can handle the plumber?”

“Of course.” She waved him on his way.

She hadn’t even walked up the porch steps when an old, battered pickup pulled into the driveway.

A young guy stepped out of the truck. As he approached, Lauren had the distinct feeling she’d seen him somewhere before but found herself unable to place his face. He was tall and lean, wearing dark jeans and a solid gray T-shirt. He wasn’t half bad looking, although she was already spoken for. Lauren stopped short in her tracks, unsure of where that thought had come from.

“Is this the Perkins house?” the man asked as he strode up the walkway.

She nodded. “Can I help you?” She assumed he was the plumber but couldn’t be certain.

“I’m looking for Jason Corwin?”

“He was called away but he’ll be back soon. Can I help you?”

He nodded and extended his hand. “Brody Pittman. JR Plumbing sent me over.”

Lauren shook his hand, which was roughened from work, and he stared down at her, his eyes boring into hers. Once again she had the feeling she’d seen him somewhere before. “Do I know you?” she asked.

He looked her over, head to toe, before answering. “Nope. I think I’d remember if we’d met before.”

“You just look familiar,” she murmured.

He glanced over her shoulder. “I must have one of those familiar-looking faces. Ready to get started?” he asked.

“Sure.” She gestured for him to follow her inside. “I woke up and stepped into a flood. I think it’s the hot water heater,” she explained.

“It’s an old house, so it wouldn’t surprise me.”

“Actually I need you to give all the pipes a once-over. I’m planning to sell the house soon and the prospective buyers will be doing an inspection prior to closing. I need to know of any potential issues ahead of time.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Good.” They’d reached the bedroom. “Flood’s in here and the water heater is around the corner.” She pointed down the hall to a closed door on the left.

“Okay. Let me take a look and see what we’re dealing with. I’ll get back to you before I start any work.”

“Thanks. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.” She left him and retreated to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.

Half an hour later, Jason returned, looking more tired than he had before. Clearly the episode with his uncle had taken a toll on him.

She barely had time to say hello, when the plumber joined them.

Introductions went quickly and Lauren got to the point. “How bad is it?” she asked the plumber.

“You’re going to need a new heater, for starters.” He wiped his dirty hands on a rag. “As for the rest of the house, things are hit and miss. The plumbing’s old, no question about that. There have been some recent replacements, but there are a lot of pipes that need replacing, as well.”

Jason nodded. “I figured as much. How long until you get the heater?”

The other man shrugged. “I’m new so I’m not sure. Let me call my boss and see what’s in stock, but it’s a standard unit, so with a little luck I can pick it up today.”

“Great. Do that and get me an estimate on the rest of the house. We’ll go from there.”

The other man shifted from foot to foot. “I need to write down everything, but I gotta tell you, some of it needs to be done ASAP or else you’re looking at bigger problems down the road.”

“I understand. Then get me an estimate quickly, Mr. Pittman.”

“It’s Brody, and sure thing.” He turned and headed back to work.

“I’m just looking out for your budget and bottom line,” Jason said to Lauren as soon as the plumber had gone.

“I appreciate that.” Lauren smiled. “How’s your uncle?” She’d been trying to put his disparaging remarks about her being a Perkins into perspective, but they still bothered her.

Lauren had returned to town telling herself she didn’t care what other people thought of her, yet when it came to Jason’s family, she realized their opinion of her mattered.

“It’s just frustrating.” A muscle twitched in Jason’s jaw. “He was doing so well, but when it comes to the curse, he isn’t rational. Anything Perkins-related sets him off.” Jason glanced out the window over the kitchen sink, staring into the wooded area beyond.

“I’m sorry.” She stepped up behind him, placing her hand on his shoulder. “We seem to find ourselves saying that a lot.”

He turned and they were close. Nose-to-nose close. “Then let’s stop. None of this Corwin Perkins stuff is either one of our fault.”

She shrugged. “I know that, and yet-”

He cut her off, placing his finger over her lips. “Your last name doesn’t define you. It never has.”

Unable to help herself, she looped her arms around his neck. “You’re still a nice guy, Jason Corwin.” Smiling, she leaned in close for a kiss.

Just one. Because he didn’t blame her for her family’s sins and because he was kind, compassionate and sexy.

She touched her lips to his. He immediately cinched his arm around her waist, pulling her close and sealing his lips against hers. His tongue swept into her mouth, creating dizzying sensations that had her clenching the fabric of his shirt and kissing him back as if she were starving.

He rocked his hips against hers, teasing her with possibilities as he kissed her thoroughly, deeply, and oh so erotically. Her skin tingled. Her nerve endings were on fire. She never wanted the moment to end.

Yet incredibly, he pulled back, staring into her eyes with his mesmerizing gaze.

“What’s the matter?” she asked, her hands still gripping his shirt.

“Don’t get me wrong, I could do this all day but you’d only use it against me later on, when we don’t get any work done.”

Reality came swarming back fast. “Oh.” She licked her damp lips.

The man had a point.

“But I do need you to remember one thing for after work hours.” An amused smile pulled at his lips.

“What’s that?” she asked warily.

“I’m not the one who broke the all-work-no-play rule, sweetheart. And I didn’t even have to try.” He placed a warm kiss on her cheek and headed out of the kitchen, back to work.

CLARA LOVED the women she’d befriended since moving to town. She cherished the loyalty and she needed their support. But since she’d gone from joy and optimism to true concern for her Edward, she wasn’t in the mood for Ladies’ Night.

Once a month, she, Amber, Gabrielle and sometimes Sharon met at The Wave. Since she’d become pregnant, Gabrielle drank a blend of Clara’s favorite tea that the restaurant now stocked and Clara usually joined her, while Amber and Sharon nursed white wine. They shared their joys and their problems and Clara loved having these close female friends in her life.

Ever since Jason had brought Edward home, mumbling and upset, she had been thrown by the change in his personality. She’d thought they’d made progress, yet now at the merest mention of Lauren Perkins working with his nephew, Edward had suddenly regressed. Clara had left him in the boathouse near the lake, hammering and muttering and basically not dealing with the world, including her.

She’d called his psychiatrist, and Dr. Shelby said he’d fit Edward in tomorrow. In the meantime, Mike promised to look in on Edward, while Clara headed to The Wave.

Thanks to the townspeople pitching in with donations of money and time, The Wave had been rebuilt in the year since Beth Perkins had set the place on fire. The restaurant was once again a hub in the community where people gathered at night and met up for lunch during the day.

The aqua-blue of The Wave’s logo welcomed Clara as she stepped inside and looked for her friends. She found them already seated and laughing around a table in the rear.

“Hello, ladies,” Clara said as she hung her jacket on the back of her chair and settled in.

“Clara, we’re so glad you could make it,” Amber said. “I know you’d rather be home with Edward, but it’ll do you good to get out.” She placed her hand over Clara’s. “How is he?”

“Puttering out back.” She knew that statement would explain it all.

Gabrielle shook her head. “I’m so sorry.”

“I know. Let’s talk about other things tonight. You cut your hair again!” Clara said, taking in Gabrielle’s angled bob. “I always loved that look on you.”

“Thanks. I had it cut this morning. I used to keep it this way because it was in style. Now it’s just easier because I’m so tired all the time,” she admitted, flushing as she spoke.

Clara smiled. “You fought hard for this pregnancy, so enjoy every moment.”

“I can’t wait to be Aunt Amber!” Amber said.

Gabrielle leaned her elbows on the table. “How about becoming mommy? I need someone to go through this with and the baby will need a playmate! You, too, Sharon.”

Clara studied Amber and Sharon intently, sensing their answers before they replied.

“What’s that knowing look?” Amber asked, her focus on Clara.

Folding her hands in her lap, Clara replied, “I have my feelings, that’s all.”

Sharon, cheeks pink, asked, “Care to share them?”

Clara was happy to oblige. “You’ll be giving Gabrielle’s daughter a playmate soon,” she said, pointing to Sharon. “And you, not for a while.” Clara inclined her head toward Amber.

Clara didn’t know if she had second sight or just the deep intuition that ran in her family, but Sharon had a glow about her that told Clara the other woman would be pregnant soon, while Amber was too busy enjoying her new husband, her move east from Vegas and her recent job as a concierge in a hotel chain new to downtown Boston.

“Am I right?” Clara asked.

Both women glanced away, neither eager to reveal their personal feelings.

Clara merely smiled. “Time will tell,” she mused.

“Drinks on the house,” the waitress said, stopping by with a tray full of their usual orders. They’d been having these Ladies’ Nights for the past four months and their choices were pretty standard.

“Thank Seth and George for us,” Gabrielle said, referring to the father and son owners.

“Yes, and also remind them that if they don’t stop doing this soon, they won’t have any profits,” Amber said in full business mode.

But they all knew that after nearly losing their business, George and Seth Saybrook were doing all they could to repay people for their kindness during the rebuilding.

“Will do,” the brunette said, laughing. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

Another half hour passed as they filled one another in on their lives, then the subject turned to Jason. Clara was surprised they hadn’t focused on him earlier. These women were so happily settled down they wanted everyone around them to be the same way.

Two Corwin cousins down. One more to go.

“Sharon, you’re the one who found Jason with Lauren Perkins at the festival, and we all know Uncle Edward heard he’s working on restoring her grandmother’s house,” Gabrielle said, eyes gleaming. “So do you know what’s going on?”

“Wait, how does Sharon know Lauren?” Amber asked.

“Lauren used to spend summers with her grandmother and we were friends,” Sharon said.

“Then didn’t you know her, too, Gabrielle?” Clara asked. Sharon and Gabrielle had been childhood pals.

Gabrielle shook her head. “Most summers my family visited relatives in Paris. I really never met Lauren until right before the fire.”

“This is getting complicated,” Amber said, laughing. “But back to Jason and Lauren. What’s going on with them?”

“I know there’s mutual interest,” Sharon replied with her usual caution. “But I also know Lauren’s fixing up the house so she can sell it to waiting buyers. So if you’re aiming to matchmake, I think you’re out of luck. She’s leaving for Paris at the end of the year.”

“Paris? What’s in Paris?” Gabrielle asked.

“Haute Couture Fashion Week. I’d think you would have that on your radar, considering how much you love clothes and shoes,” Sharon said, laughing. “Lauren Perkins is an up-and-coming dress designer.”

Clara saw Gabrielle’s astute mind start to work. The woman loved fashion and anything related to style. “I don’t recognize the name Lauren Perkins…Wait!” She snapped her fingers. “LP Designs, right? She’s with Galliano now.”

Sharon looked thoughtful for a moment. “I think that’s the name of her company. I’m not sure.”

“How could you not know? Oh, never mind.” Gabrielle rolled her eyes at her friend. “I’ll have to get over to the house and reintroduce myself.”

“So you don’t hold it against her?” Sharon asked, obviously relieved. “That her sister and grandmother tried to destroy your husband’s family? That they perpetuated the curse?”

“No, why would I?” Gabrielle said. “She didn’t have anything to do with it.”

Clara smiled, so pleased at the friends she’d made, their wisdom and openmindedness.

“So if she and Jason got together, a Corwin and a Perkins,” Sharon pushed, spelling things out, “you really wouldn’t care?”

“If she made Jason happy, I’d be all for it!” Gabrielle announced.

Sharon nodded. “Good, because I really want her to be accepted while she’s here. I didn’t want anyone to hold what her family did against her.”

“Well, she won’t get that kind of treatment from us,” Gabrielle promised.

“I agree,” Amber said. “Of all people, I know what it’s like to try and outrun past mistakes.”

Clara smiled. Yes, Amber would understand. She’d met Mike Corwin in Vegas, married him on a whim and abandoned him before he even woke up the next day. She’d had her reasons, but she’d spent a long time making up for her choices and still hadn’t forgiven herself completely, even though her husband had.

“As long as Jason is happy, that’s all we care about,” Amber said. “So does she make him happy?”

Clara, who’d been content to let the other women speak, decided it was time she added her two cents. “She makes him more than happy. I think she’s his destiny.” Finally she’d admitted aloud what she’d been keeping inside since the day of the tarot reading.

“Now that’s a mouthful,” Amber said, her eyes wide.

“Tell me about it.” Clara’s biggest problem was that Jason’s chance for happiness reinforced Edward’s greatest fear.

“What do you mean you think she’s his destiny?” Gabrielle asked.

Clara didn’t want to push for this relationship when it would only hurt the man she loved. It wasn’t that Clara was worried about whether or not Edward would eventually accept her love. If they were meant to be, then they’d have a future together. But she knew that revealing her sense of inevitability regarding Lauren and Jason might trigger something in Edward that would lead to further regression or even breakdown.

Still, Clara believed in following the clues of the tarot to wherever they led. She couldn’t keep this to herself. Not if the family could help.

“I did a reading for Jason before the festival and I saw her,” Clara said.

“Saw who? Lauren?” Sharon asked.

Clara nodded. “In a sense. I saw a woman of mystery wearing a red mask-the ultimate expression of undying love.”

She’d also seen the white picket fence and the potential for happily ever after. “A Corwin and a Perkins union would undo the past,” Clara said softly.

“I love it!” Amber said, her blond curls bouncing around her face as she practically jumped up in her seat.

Clara had expected Amber’s enthusiastic reaction, but she glanced warily at Gabrielle. An author who debunked the paranormal, Gabrielle had forged a mutual respect with Clara despite their differing beliefs. Gabrielle’s last work, written in the months following the fire, refuted the Corwin Curse and put forth other more logical explanations for all the tragedies that had befallen the family over the generations.

What Clara had just suggested was contrary to Gabrielle’s commonsense beliefs.

Gabrielle glanced down, then met Clara’s gaze. “I love the notion of Jason’s happiness even if I don’t believe there’s a past to undo,” she said at last.

Clara smiled. “Fair enough.” She admired the other woman greatly. “Sharon?”

She swirled her wine in her glass. “I want Jason to be happy, too, but Lauren’s leaving. She has plans and I can’t see anything that would make her stay, especially in a place where she would have to face all the problems her family caused day in and day out.”

“Women and men do strange things in the name of love,” Clara mused. “I just think we have to wait and see what the Fates have in store.”

“Why wait when we can nudge things in the right direction?” Amber asked.

“As long as things take their natural course,” Clara said warily.

Gabrielle cleared her throat. “They’re already working together, right? So we just need to keep it that way. What could be more natural than that?”

“Exactly!” Amber’s excitement was tangible. “Just a little extra work that will keep Jason in the house more often. Nothing serious or extreme, I promise.” She held up one hand.

“See? All natural matchmaking.” Gabrielle grinned.

“I like it. Who’s in?” Amber asked.

Clara hoped she didn’t live to regret this as she joined the other women at the table and raised her hand.

FOUR DAYS INTO Lauren’s project, Jason thought he would lose his mind. What had started as a mission to show Lauren he could work on her house like a professional and accomplish everything she needed without distraction-sexual distraction-had turned into a form of self-torture. It didn’t matter that he had men from his crew milling around or the electrician inspecting the wiring. His focus was solely on her.

He’d been determined to let sex be on her terms. He wanted her to come to him so that she didn’t have any regrets afterward, ensuring many a repeat performance. At least until she left town.

But being around her was wearing him down. From the tight jeans she wore, to the way she hummed off-key to the music she played on her iPod, to the sexy sway of her hips as she cleaned and scrubbed each room from top to bottom, she slowly, systematically was driving him insane. He didn’t think he could wait for her to give in first.

As a successful athlete, he’d always attracted women easily. Whether it was the ski bunny groupies who hung around the lodge where he worked and practiced, or the women who wanted to say they’d scored with the world champion. Judging by the chemistry between them, which was stronger now than in the past, Lauren wasn’t more than a kiss away from being in his bed again.

Yet for one of the first times in his life, he wasn’t eager to take what he wanted just because the woman in question could be easily swayed. He didn’t know if it was the bruising his ego had taken in the past year, or if it had just been too long since a woman had wanted Jason Corwin the man, not the athlete. He feared it was more about the woman herself. And she was doing her best to remain elusive.

But he needed Lauren to come to him and admit she wanted him.

Now that work was finished for the day, he headed to check in with his lady boss. He couldn’t locate Lauren, which surprised him since they’d fallen into a routine. He arrived at the house at eight in the morning, before his small crew, and he worked later than his men, until Lauren called a halt. She enticed him away from patching holes in the walls with the lure of dinner, always some kind of take-out food.

She didn’t cook and didn’t apologize for it. He wasn’t great around the kitchen either, which normally left him eating at the diner in town or mooching some of Clara’s home cooking, which was delicious. But since he’d started working at the Perkins house, he was back to eating takeout.

He didn’t mind one bit. He preferred sitting across the table from Lauren each night. Learning more, with every meal, about the woman she’d become.

He finally found her in a far room, one he knew she was putting off fixing until last. She was on her knees, her head half inserted into one of the holes in the wall, her delectable rear end sticking out for him to see.

The woman had amazing curves and soft skin. He knew that firsthand, but seeing her in such a provocative position took him off guard and his mouth went dry at the sight. His groin hardened, throbbing against the zipper of his jeans. Visions of stripping off his clothes and taking her in that position, his entire body wrapped around hers as he thrust into her over and over again, filled his mind.

He let out a groan, knowing no way in hell was he going to be able to wait for her to come to him.

THE CAT HAD BEEN crying pitifully from somewhere inside the house. Lauren had done a systematic room-to-room check, listening for the sound to grow louder, but no luck. She’d worked her way from the bedroom, where the cat stayed with her at night, to the far end of the house when finally the meows had grown more distinct and she realized the cat had crawled into one of the many ridiculously large holes punched in the drywall and gotten stuck there.

She’d lowered herself to her hands and knees, gingerly easing her head into the wide space, and peeked inside. Pitch-black, she couldn’t see a thing.

“Now that’s a nice sight.” Jason followed up his words with an appreciative whistle.

Startled, Lauren jumped up, banged her head and fell back onto her butt, her head aching from where she’d smacked it on the wall.

She braced her hands on either side of her hips and glared up at him. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on a person?” she asked as she rubbed her sore head.

“Sorry.” She noticed he was trying not to laugh but the corners of his mouth kept tugging up. “You okay?”

“Nothing bruised but my head-and my ego,” she muttered.

This time he allowed the grin. “Mind if I ask what you were looking for?”

“The cat’s stuck inside. He’s been crying on and off.”

“And here I thought his favorite place was the hood of my truck.”

“Try to control your jealousy,” Lauren said. “He’s there more often than not.” As long as the hood of Jason’s car was warm from use, the cat tended to sit on his throne and survey his kingdom.

“I knew I shouldn’t have left those holes uncovered,” he muttered. “Well, I can’t possibly patch them all in one day, but I’ll cover them so he can’t get stuck again. Let’s get him out of here first.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Tell you what,” he said as he held his hand out for her. “You get a treat to help coax him out and I’ll go find a flashlight.”

“The one you paid for is in the drawer near the dishwasher. I’ll get it.” She placed her palm in his and he pulled her up. Electricity shot up her arm and settled in her chest.

Light-headed from the sensation, she held on to his grasp and she couldn’t stop staring at his mouth. Suddenly aroused, she wanted those lips on hers, wanted him to pull her into his arms and not let her go until she agreed to let him make love to her here and now.

Not that it would take any persuasion at all. And from the way he stared at her, his expression taut, his gaze hungry, she knew he felt the same way.

How had this happened? She’d been telling herself she didn’t want to get involved with him any more than she already was, yet every evening she’d ordered enough dinner for two and invited him to stay. Each night, she’d shared just enough information about herself to keep conversation going, convincing herself she was maintaining a reasonable distance. Pretending the sexual deprivation and longing weren’t killing her.

But now she knew there was no such thing as distance.

And if she didn’t feel his hot touch on her body, she was going to explode. “Jason…”

Without warning, a loud, disgruntled meow reminded them of their priorities.

With a regretful glance at Jason, she started to head for the kitchen but he held on to her hand.

“What were you going to say?” he asked, his voice rough. “I need you to tell me.”

She licked her lips. “No more games. I know I said all work, no play, but I can’t do this anymore.” Her voice cracked at the confession, but she’d finally admitted her feelings out loud.

“Thank God.” His relief was clear.

But once again, she had to make sure he understood her intentions. “As long as you know I’m leaving in a few weeks, we can pick up where we left off in the barn.”

Unable to stop herself, she ran her thumb over his stubble-roughened cheek, inhaling his scent, waiting for his reply.

He kissed her hard and fast, sealing the deal.