Last Resort: Marriage

Charlie beamed at her speechless grandfather. She tried to present the picture of calm confidence, but inside her stomach lurched. What now?

Edward glanced at her bare ring finger, leveled his pointed glare at Aaron and demanded, “Is that true? Are you planning to marry my granddaughter?”

Locking gazes with Aaron, Charlie silently pleaded with him to back her up. His eyes matched the murky green of the gulf right before a storm, and were just as dangerous. Hopefully he was crazy enough to take the challenge.

“Why would Charlie lie about a thing like that?” Aaron asked without looking Edward’s way. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

Dear Reader,

I’ve always loved to travel, and my favorite destination is always a beach. But in all my travels, I’ve found no place on earth that matches the eclectic character of the Florida Keys. The Keys are more than a string of islands linked by more than seventy bridges. They offer a hodgepodge of open-air bars, hot sandy beaches and boats of every description. There are colorful locals, breathtaking sunsets and key lime pie. Romantic? You bet. But what if your job is creating romantic island vacations for other people and you never have time for love of your own? In fact, it’s been so long since you’ve had a day off, you haven’t even noticed anything is missing! Until one day he walks into your office. All muscled and tanned, his mischievous eyes twinkling as he flashes a roguish grin. You might consider doing something wild. Something crazy. Something completely out of character. But only as a last resort.

I’m so thrilled to be writing for Harlequin American Romance. Let me know if you enjoy escaping to the Keys with Aaron and Charlie in Last Resort: Marriage. I’d love to hear from you. You can contact me and find out about my upcoming books at www.pamelastone.net.

Wishing you sand between your toes, a salty breeze rustling the palms and a special someone to share it with.

Pamela Stone

Last Resort: Marriage

Pamela Stone

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Texas native Pamela Stone is an accounting graduate who spent more than twenty years in the technology field before publishing her first romance novel.

Pamela still resides in Texas with her childhood sweetheart and husband of—well, we won’t mention how many years. In her spare time she enjoys traveling. From Hawaii to California to Florida to the Caribbean, if there’s a beach, she’s there. So not surprisingly, the majority of her stories are set on a beach. She also loves spending time with friends and family, but her laptop is never far from her fingertips for when that next inspiration strikes!

She insists that writing keeps her sane. Cheaper than a therapist and tons more fun.

I’d like to dedicate this book to my editor,

Johanna Raisanen, for taking a chance on me.

And to all my family and friends for believing in me.

And last but not least, to my critique partners,

Linda and Juliet. This dream wouldn’t

have come true without you, ladies.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter One

“After all, dear, you’re not getting any younger,” Charlotte Harrington’s grandfather stated in a tone that made intelligent, self-assured adults quake in their shoes.

Not getting any younger? “Twenty-nine isn’t exactly elderly.”

“There’s more to life than work.”

Charlotte blinked. Since when had Edward Harrington thought about anything other than his precious chain of resorts?

“I only want to see you happy and settled with a husband and family. I want to hold my great-grandson before I die.” He gestured to the man beside him. “Since you haven’t found a suitable husband on this godforsaken island, I thought I’d help you out.”

Perry Thurman held out both hands. “I miss you, darling.”

Charlotte almost gagged. Perry wore his toothpaste smile and tailor-fit Armani with all the confidence of Edward’s handpicked protégé. She drew a measure of satisfaction from the bump on his nose. Only the two of them knew the history of that little flaw.

Edward clapped Perry on the back. “Charlotte, Perry came to me and confessed that what happened between you two in college was entirely his fault. Give him another chance.”

Her nails dug into her palms. Perry’s sincerity might fool some, but not her. There wasn’t enough air in the room. She walked across her office and opened the shutters. Think, Charlotte. She glanced out at the beach where sunbathers baked on the clean white sand. She felt like the damsel in distress in one of her grandmother’s romance novels. Perry fit the part of the despicable groom to perfection, but this was the twenty-first century and Charlotte wasn’t buying into the plot.

She turned from the window to face Edward. “You, the man who lives and breathes work, are giving me advice about love?”

“There are a few things in my life I’d do differently. We all live with regrets.”

Like being away on a business trip the day your wife died?

“At least hear me out before you reject my plan.” Edward smiled that I-know-what’s-best-for-you smile. “It’s time you and Perry were back in Boston learning the ropes. Taking a more active role in Harrington’s.”

Charlotte caught her breath. Running Harrington’s had always been her dream. Five years ago, she’d have jumped at a chance at a management position at the head office. But here in the Keys and away from her grandfather, she’d become accustomed to making her own decisions. She couldn’t go back to working under Edward Harrington’s thumb. And with Perry there, Boston sounded more like a prison sentence than a dream.

“Perry’s done a phenomenal job with the Monte Carlo resort.”

Typically, Edward seemed more interested in Perry’s professional credentials than his husband potential. So much for the new family-first Edward Harrington. Begrudgingly Charlotte had to admit that Perry’s profit margin was the highest in the chain. So why had he given up the prestige of running the Monte Carlo resort? His idea or Edward’s?

“But what about this resort?” she protested. “I’ve turned Marathon Key into one of the most elegant, profitable resorts in South Florida.” She glanced at the gold-framed diplomas, certificates and hotel awards on the wall behind her desk. “I was helping run it even before Daddy died.”

“I already have several investors interested in taking this monstrosity off our hands.”

“You’re selling my hotel?” Marathon Key was all she had left of her father.

Edward glanced around. “It’s the oldest resort in the chain. Nobody pays prime rates to come to the Keys nowadays when it’s just as easy to hop a jet to the Mediterranean.”

How quickly he dismissed everything she’d accomplished. Her chauvinist grandfather didn’t have enough confidence in her to realize she could run her own hotel business without the help of a man.

“If you intend to sell Marathon anyway, then sell it to me. I can give you a hundred thousand down by tomorrow.” It’d be tight, but some decent investments combined with her inheritance would cover it.

Edward clasped his hands together and smiled. “I’ll do you one better. Marry Perry, move back to Boston and I’ll sign Marathon over to you as a wedding present. You can play with it in your spare time. Bring your children down here for vacations.”

So, the truth finally came out. He interpreted her hard work building up this resort as playing. Watching the two men exchange self-assured grins, she steamed. The conniving rats expected her to just fall in line with their conspiracy.

“You and Perry could make a good life together.”

Perry eased behind her desk and took both her hands in his. “We were young. I was stupid. Any way you could find it in your heart to forgive me? Give me another chance?”

She pulled her hands out of his grasp and shot him a go-to-hell look. Did he actually think she’d fall for his preposterous act? She wasn’t the naive coed she’d been six years ago. Dimples and an expensive suit wouldn’t fool her again.

Leaning close, he nuzzled her ear. “Don’t be like this, darling. We’ll make a great team, both personally and professionally. Just like we planned.”

She flinched at his touch. The only thing Perry was interested in was getting to the top. He didn’t care whom he had to use, step on or obviously even marry to get there.

A quick tap on her office door drew her attention. Without waiting for an invitation, the local Casanova strolled into the room. “Hey, Charlie, we got a problem. My boat’s on the blink again.”

Today was turning into a real winner.

“Charlie?” Edward sputtered. “You allow employees to call you Charlie? How can you run a resort of this caliber without respect for management?”

She bit her tongue to keep from snapping back. At least they were in agreement about one thing. Only Aaron Brody would enter her office unannounced and only Aaron called her Charlie. The man had no concept of propriety or manners. It was a miracle he managed to keep his charter business afloat. Literally. This was the third time in two months he’d had to cancel a tour because his boat wasn’t running.

Ignoring her grandfather’s comments, Aaron folded his tanned arms across his chest and winked at Charlotte.

She did a double take. What was up with that? Did he realize what he’d walked in on? She studied his face. She’d never been able to decipher the strange workings of his mind. Mr. Brody was a law unto himself. She’d long since given up on him behaving properly.

The first time she’d seen Aaron Brody, he’d been working on his boat. That situation hadn’t changed much over three years. The image of his sweaty tanned chest and long legs dusted with sun-bleached hair was seared in her memory.

Cocky, independent Aaron would never get caught in a position like this. He’d probably tell Edward to go straight to hell.

As she studied him, an idea took form. Would Aaron go along with it? Either way, she wasn’t about to lose this resort without a fight. But marrying Perry Thurman to keep it wasn’t an option.

Trying not to act awkward, Charlotte sauntered up to Aaron and slipped her arm around his waist. She stared him straight in the eyes and smiled. “Aaron isn’t an employee, Edward.” Please let him follow her lead. She turned her head to watch the expression on her grandfather’s face. “I’d like you to meet my fiancé, Aaron Brody.”

Edward’s jaw dropped.

She deliberately didn’t introduce Perry as she beamed at her speechless grandfather. She tried to present the picture of calm confidence, but inside her stomach lurched. What now? Aaron surely thought she was a lunatic.

Edward glanced at her bare ring finger, leveled his pointed glare on Aaron, and demanded, “Is that true? Are you planning to marry my granddaughter?”

Locking gazes with Aaron, she silently pleaded with him to back her up. His eyes matched the murky green of the gulf right before a storm and were just as dangerous. She’d heard rumors of wild nights and wilder women. Hopefully he was crazy enough to take the challenge.

His body was a granite statue beneath her arm. Wiping her sweaty palm on the back of his shirt, she continued to hold his stare.

“Why would Charlie lie about a thing like that?” Aaron asked without looking Edward’s way. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

Before she had time to register relief, he bent his head, slid a seductive hand inside the collar of her blouse, and caressed her bare neck. He leaned close, rubbed the tip of his nose against hers, and covered her lips with his.

She felt every thump of her heart, but her lips parted, following his lead. His tongue slowly traced the shape of her mouth. She gazed into his eyes and her body temperature rose ten degrees. His mouth was warm and intimate, nibbling and sampling as if her lips were a delectable slice of key lime pie.

As quickly as he’d swept her into his arms, he loosened his hold. A corner of his mouth twitched and a mischievous twinkle lit his eyes. “You left before I woke up this morning. You know I don’t like that.”

Charlotte reminded herself to close her mouth. She couldn’t think of an appropriate response.

Perry paced across the room. “You can’t be serious about throwing your life away on this…this…”

She turned her back on him and flashed Aaron a grateful smile. “I have no intention of throwing my life away.” Hopefully this “engagement” would buy her enough time to send Perry packing.

Edward ran his gaze over Charlotte before focusing on Aaron. “Is that the way you dress for work?”

She glanced at Aaron’s dirty khaki shorts and road-stripe-yellow T-shirt. His sneakers sported holes and engine grease stained his shirt and nails. Tufts of sun-streaked brown hair stuck out from under a battered khaki baseball cap. Typical dress for the Keys, but not her grandfather’s idea of proper business attire.

Aaron shrugged and pointed to the faded green words, Brody’s Charters, stenciled on the front of his shirt. “You got a problem with free advertising?” The two men never broke eye contact. “This is the Keys, pal. Not Boston.”

“So, when’s the wedding? Should I postpone my flight?”

She couldn’t move. She should have expected Edward to call her bluff. She squeezed Aaron’s waist. “We aren’t planning a big ceremony. Spring break is about to hit. Maybe after that we’ll go to a JP.”

Edward frowned. “A justice of the peace?”

“Charlotte, please don’t do this.” Perry sounded truly pained.

She took a breath and pretended Perry wasn’t in the room. Not too difficult with Aaron massaging the back of her neck.

He rubbed his stubbled chin with his other hand and eyed Edward. “You know, Charlie, since your grandfather’s in town, maybe my pal Johnny could marry us on his boat. He’s a captain. We could get married as early as say…tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? Her throat tightened. What was he doing? Did he think she was actually going to marry him?

Aaron flashed an innocent smile. “What do you say, Charlie?”

She felt like a swimmer trapped in a pool of circling male sharks. She offered her grandfather what she hoped was a pleasant smile. “Aaron and I need to talk. Could you give us a minute?”

She took Edward’s arm and escorted him to the door. “Why don’t you and Perry wait for us in the restaurant? Order lunch and we’ll join you shortly.”

Edward continued to watch Aaron.

Perry widened his eyes as if he were a parent instructing a child. “Don’t let this guy rush you into something you’ll regret.”

She ignored him and pushed them out of her office.

The minute the door clicked shut she swiveled to face Aaron. “What are you up to?”

“Just playing along, sweetheart,” he drawled, staring at her legs.

Smoothing her skirt, she stepped behind her desk. “I only want to make my grandfather think we’re engaged. The idea here is not to marry anyone. You just have to pretend.”

“The hell I will! Your grandfather’s not stupid. He wants you married or you’re going to lose this place. Right?”

She swallowed. Edward hadn’t exactly threatened that, but he always had an agenda. As, apparently, did Aaron. He was acting too sure of himself, too in control. “Were you eavesdropping?”

He quirked one eyebrow, but didn’t deny her accusation. His sneakers squeaked across the polished wood floor as he sauntered over to pick up a crystal paperweight off her desk.

“What do you want, Mr. Brody?”

He put the paperweight down and propped one khaki-covered hip on the corner of her imported, mahogany desk. “Same thing you do. To save my business.”

“I’m not following.”

He dug a crumpled pack of Camels and a red disposable lighter out of the pocket of his shorts and lit a cigarette.

Charlotte fanned her hand in front of her face. “Don’t smoke in here.”

He paused with the cigarette midway to his mouth and then took a long drag before pinching the fire out between his fingers and flicking it into her empty metal trash can.

“A hundred grand should get me back on the water in style.” Studying the smoke ring floating to the ceiling, he didn’t glance her way.

“You were eavesdropping. Don’t try to con me.”

“Careful. You’ll hurt my feelings.” One eyebrow arched. “Look, you need a husband to pacify the old man and save your hotel. I’ve got a boat that needs a major overhaul and my funds are tapped out. We need each other or we’ll both be out of business.”

She narrowed her eyes. “A hundred thousand dollars? You’re insane. I don’t need you that bad.”

“Yeah, you do. You marry that self-centered slick and Granddaddy will still be yanking your chain. Percy will lick that old man’s wing tips until he keels over. Your grandfather will probably even put the resort in Percy’s name.” He sat up straight and did a realistic impression of Edward. “Isn’t proper for a business to be in a woman’s name. The man runs things.” He turned and flashed an enigmatic grin. “But hey? You’ll be too busy popping out little Percys to have time to run a hotel, anyway.”

“Don’t be a wise guy,” she hissed. “And his name is Perry.” Interesting the way Aaron had pegged Perry in thirty seconds flat. Whereas her usually astute grandfather seemed to believe the guy had feelings for anything other than his bank account. Edward had substituted the brown-nosing smooth-talker for the son he’d lost. Perry excelled in every aspect where her father had fallen short. Advanced degree in hotel management, professional appearance, and above all, a willingness to dedicate every waking minute to the Harrington empire. Perry hadn’t been born a Harrington, but it was almost as if he’d been vaccinated with Edward’s DNA.

Aaron grinned. “Think about it. We stay married a few months. I keep out of your hotel business and put my boat back in shape. Grandfather backs off. We get a quiet divorce and everybody’s happy. Beautiful plan.”

“Ten thousand for a pretend engagement.”

“Come on, Charlie.” He shook his head. “Short of marrying Percy, I’m your best shot at ever owning this place.”

“I’ll pay Edward the hundred thousand as a down payment and buy the resort. I don’t have to marry either of you.”

“Think of it this way. The resort is worth what, a hundred times that? You’ll be paying on the loan for years. And as long as you’re single, your grandfather will be riding your case about getting married and having a family. Pacify the old man. Marry me and he’ll sign the hotel over to you.”

“No. I’ll figure out something,” she said, although no immediate alternative came to mind.

He cocked an eyebrow. “Granddaddy’s going to be disappointed when there’s no nuptials tomorrow.”

“What do you expect after your brash announcement?” she snapped. “I’ll just have to explain.” Somehow.

“You need me, Charlie.”

She nodded toward the door. “Get out, Mr. Brody. I’m not marrying you or anyone else.”

EDWARD STOOD AS SHE TOOK her seat across from him in the hotel restaurant. “Where’s your fiancé?”

How could she tell him she’d lied about the engagement without making him so suspicious he’d never agree to sell her the resort? “Aaron had to arrange for someone to take his tour.” She glanced around. “No Perc—Perry?”

“I told him to make himself scarce. Charlotte, are you certain about marrying this man? I’ve never heard you mention Aaron Brody until today.”

“There are lots of things you don’t know about me.”

“As I’m sure there are things you don’t know about your fiancé.”

This was probably her best opening. “Look, Edward—”

“I don’t trust this guy. He’s seeing dollar signs.”

“Perry’s the one seeing dollar signs.”

“Just because the man hurt your pride in college is no call to be snide. He’s grown up. So should you.” He leveled his gaze. “If I truly believed Aaron was in love with you, I’d be delighted. But…”

“You don’t believe he could love me?” Maybe she wasn’t the type men typically craved in their beds, but she wasn’t exactly a dog, either.

“You’re not thinking clearly. Love clouds a woman’s judgment. I don’t want you hurt and I have to protect my business. I’ve worked too damn hard to risk some fortune hunter taking you to the cleaners.”

She twisted her napkin. If she didn’t know her grandfather had her best interest at heart, she’d reach across the table and yank his red power tie until his face matched.

“Aaron isn’t like that,” she said, although not more than fifteen minutes ago, he’d tried to do exactly that.

Edward pushed his chair back and stood. “He is and I can prove it.” With that parting shot, he turned and strode out of the restaurant.

AARON GLANCED UP FROM WORKING on his defunct engine and narrowed one eye as Edward Harrington boarded the Free Wind. One thing Aaron could say for the guy, he was better dressed than the typical clientele.

Harrington slid a leather checkbook from the breast pocket of his tailor-made jacket and flipped it open. “How much?”

Aaron grabbed a grease rag off his toolbox and wiped his hands as he stood. “Excuse me?”

“No games. How much to get you out of my granddaughter’s life? What’ll it take to make you disappear? Fifty thousand? A hundred?” Edward stared at him in disdain.

Nothing ever changed. He might as well be back on the streets of Miami with everyone who passed scowling at him as if he was slime that had washed in at high tide.

A flock of seagulls squawked overhead. Harrington glanced up and frowned as if he expected them to shut up on command. “A working-class man like yourself meets a woman of Charlotte’s means and sees an opportunity to make a fortune.” He scoffed at the greasy tools scattered across the deck and took a slender gold pen out of his pocket. “Well, she’s not as vulnerable as you thought. You’ve got to deal with me. Two hundred thousand?”

Two hundred thousand?

Harrington nailed him with a stare, waiting for him to bite. Aaron pictured all the new equipment that much money could buy. Hell, he could get a new boat.

“Come on, Mr. Brody, every man has a price. Give it up. I’m not having my granddaughter taken by a two-bit crook.”

Harrington’s smug confidence burned his ass. Thought his fat bank account gave him the power to control the world. “Do you need a step-by-step diagram of where to stick that checkbook?”

Aaron had the pleasure of watching Edward’s self-assured smirk fade as he replaced the checkbook in his pocket and strolled off the Free Wind.

He was going to hate himself in the morning. But hell, once Charlie told her grandfather she’d broken off the engagement the check would be about as worthless as his archaic engine anyway.

Chapter Two

“I may have been a bit rash in judging your fiancé,” Edward admitted as he folded himself into the wing chair across from Charlotte’s desk.

Her fingers stilled over her keyboard. “You’re admitting you were wrong?”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” He held up one hand. “But I’m willing to give him a chance.”