Forever and For Always Read online

  “May I help you off this roof?” He smiled and her nauseous stomach rippled with butterflies.

  Ha. She didn’t do butterflies. No, in her business, amazingly good-looking and charismatic men were the norm. And not to be toyed with. Case in point—tabloid fodder would follow.

  He held out his hand to her and smiled an amazing smile, so amazing that the heavens saw fit to stop raining cats and dogs in that moment.

  “That would be nice,” she managed but couldn’t force her fingers to let go of the satellite dish and take his hand.

  BJ tried to ignore the jolt of attraction that he felt the moment her green eyes met his through her mass of wet blonde hair. She was scared but trying hard not to fall apart. He felt for her. He’d once had an accident and gotten trapped inside a small dark shed. He could still remember the panic he’d felt until his father had found him an hour later and rescued him. His father. The father who’d raised him… He pushed the confusing thoughts away and focused on the beauty staring at him.

  Her blonde hair was plastered to her head, but it just accentuated her oval face and big eyes. Something was familiar about her. “Do I know you?” He didn’t think he would have ever forgotten her if he’d ever met her, but there was something about her.

  She paled, if that was possible because she was already pale from fright. “No, I’m pretty sure we haven’t met.” She looked down, letting her wet hair cover her face more.

  “No, I’m pretty sure we’ve met.”

  “We haven’t.”

  “I don’t forget faces. At least not like yours.”

  Her expression, or what he could see through all that hair, tensed.

  “I just got to town.” She sounded emphatic and a little agitated.

  “Okay,” he said slowly and let it go because the last thing he needed was for her to freeze up more than she already was. She was obviously petrified. “So let me get this straight. You are deathly afraid of heights, but to save your cat, you climbed up here anyway and managed to kick the ladder down and strand yourself.”

  “It’s not my cat and I wouldn’t say I was deathly afraid, exactly.”

  He squinted. “You sure about that?”

  She sighed. “It’s true but I don’t like to accept it.” She glanced up at him and those green eyes got him right in the gut.

  “I guess you could look on the bright side. You climbed up here to be a hero. Sounds like you might have made some progress by getting up here in the first place.”

  “True. But if you hadn’t come along, I guess I’d be up here until someone missed me and came searching. And since no one knows I’m here…” The last words were more of a mutter.

  “I’ve got it,” he said, as suddenly he knew. “You’re Shar’s sister. We met at the hospital when Gage was in the hospital.”

  She held her head up then and looked him straight in the eye; he could have sworn he saw relief in her eyes.

  “Oh, you’ve met my sisters, Jillian and Shar.” She gave a small laugh and yes, it was a relieved laugh. “We’re triplets. Though Shar isn’t identical, Jillian and I are…at least to those who don’t know us well.”

  “So that explains it. I knew that I knew you and wondered why you were hiding it. I was starting to think you had something to hide,” he teased.

  “Um, no…I just haven’t met you. So, you were at the hospital?”

  “Yeah. I’m BJ McCall.”

  It took a moment for his name to register. And then dawning showed in those eyes.

  “You’re Gage’s brother. The one he just found.”

  “Yeah, it was a very unusual day.” That was the understatement of the century.

  “I’m sure it was,” she said, softly.

  They stared at each other and the moment stretched between them. He knew that she and Jillian might be identical, and when she had dry hair and was less pale, he was sure now they’d look exactly alike except the buzz of attraction he felt had not happened between him and Jillian. Her green eyes had not reached inside him like these were doing right now.

  “You’re Olivia, right?” He was pretty sure he’d remembered someone saying her name.

  “Yes, that’s me.”

  “Well, Olivia, are you ready to get down now?”

  “Again, yes, I am. That is the best idea I’ve heard in days. If I can let go of this satellite dish.”

  He smiled and reached across her to take one of her hands in his. He squeezed her hand gently. “You can do it. Move this way a little and let’s get you on this ladder.”

  She took a deep breath and held his gaze as she inched to the ladder. She was still holding tight to the satellite dish with her other hand and he realized that looking down wasn’t exactly where he needed to be looking. Her clingy, wet pajamas left little to the imagination and though he found himself tempted…he held her gaze instead.

  “You have to let go of that.” He nodded to her other hand.

  “Oh,” she gasped and instantly yanked her hand from the satellite dish to grasp the ladder.

  “There you go. Now take a deep breath and put your foot on the rung.”

  It took a little while but they managed to make it to the ground at last. Once there, she spun around and flung her arms around his neck.

  “Thank you,” she gasped. Then yanked herself back a foot, as if startled by her actions, and crossed her arms securely over her breasts. “Sorry, I don’t normally throw my arms around men, but I can’t thank you enough. And now, I need to go change. Wait, though. Please.” She turned, opened the glass door and stepped inside.

  He was left standing in the drizzle, thinking about those blasted pink flamingos—among other things.

  She returned in a moment with a warmup top and pants. “Sorry. I doubt I’ll ever wear those pajamas again in my life.” She laughed a lovely embarrassed laugh.

  He grinned. “That’s a pity.”

  She laughed again. “Maybe from where you were standing. But believe me, they will not bring back good memories for me. Would you like to come in for some coffee to warm up? I can give you a towel.”

  “No, that’s okay. My boat is down there at the dock.” He waved a hand toward where his charter boat was tied to the private dock. “I’m staying at the house while Gage and Shar are on their honeymoon. It’s down the beach there.”

  She smiled. “And I’m staying a few days here at Shar’s. I’m…” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “Housesitting for her.”

  “I guess I’m doing that too, in a way.” Gage had given him the key to the house that they owned. The house that contained more of the photos of him as a child with his mother and Milton Lancaster. Gage had said that he was welcome to stay there and to go through the photos and anything else he found. As it turned out, they were both seeking answers. Gage just had the priority of getting married to take precedence over learning more about their complicated pasts.

  As much as BJ hadn’t wanted to accept the offer, he’d been compelled to come over yesterday and go through the photos. And then he’d spent the night there.

  He wasn’t sure how long he was going to stay.

  As he looked into her soft green eyes, he was tempted to take that cup of coffee. “Stay safe.” He turned and walked away. He had a lot on his mind right now. The best thing he could do was to not let himself get lost in those green eyes.

  Olivia watched BJ walk away and she ignored the pull of attraction. The last thing she needed right now was that.

  She was just relieved that he’d been a normal man who’d obviously paid no attention to the magazine racks. That fact alone made him attractive to her. And the fact that he’d saved her from her ridiculous situation and not ridiculed her for her fear meant he was a simply a nice guy.

  Heaving in a sigh, she headed into the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee.

  With coffee in hand, she went back to the bedroom and sat cross-legged in the warm covers of her bed while she sipped the coffee.

  Against her better
judgment, she decided to check her messages.

  There were four voice messages from Brad—begging her to call him, because he had to see her.

  The man had lost it. Obviously. She set her coffee on the table along with the phone that she’d set on silence a long time ago. And then she snuggled under the covers and closed her eyes.

  She would handle this tomorrow. Right now, she wanted to play like an ostrich and ignore the trouble and try to get some sleep.

  Maybe then she’d be fortified enough to deal with this.

  The only problem was that when she closed her eyes, BJ McCall was smiling at her with those teal-blue eyes that made her think of tropical days on the beach and moonlit kisses…

  Chapter Three

  The day after her rooftop fiasco, a little more rested and feeling better, Olivia parked Olivia’s jeep in the back of the parking lot, having decided it might be better to keep her car parked just in case a reporter might just happen to be around and have her license plate number. She told herself she was being paranoid but left the car in the garage anyway. She used the rear entrance to enter the Windswept Bay Resort. Her parents had owned the beautiful boutique resort since before her birth and now her three sisters were running it. When they’d banded together to take over the running of the resort when their parents had decided to retire, Olivia had opted not to go in with her sisters. Not that she didn’t want the legacy of the resort to go on, but because her life was in Hollywood. She was building her career and hadn’t planned to ever live back on the picturesque island again. She loved her life. She did.

  This was just a setback.

  Tugging the wide brim of her hat forward on her forehead, she strode through the elegantly landscaped grounds that her talented sister, Jillian, designed. When she spotted a female bottom sticking out of a shrub, she paused.

  “Please tell me you haven’t fallen into a gopher hole.”

  “What?” Jillian gasped, spinning in the dirt to gape up at her. “Olivia!” She laughed and scrambled from the dirt, brushing at her knees before she wrapped her arms around Olivia. “What are you doing here? We’ve been so worried about you.”

  Olivia laughed and hugged her look-alike back. “I’ve been on the road. Keeping to myself and heading this way. I had to get out of town for a few days and I just took off.”

  Jillian leaned back from her and studied her with serious intent. “You look worn out.”

  “Gee, thanks. I got to Shar’s night before last and spent much of yesterday catching up on my sleep.”

  “And you didn’t let us know?”

  Olivia shook her head. “I was too tired.” She decided to omit her rooftop adventure, at least for now. “And I needed time to get my thoughts together.”

  “Well, come on. We need to get you out of sight.” Jillian tucked her arm in hers and they started toward the back of the garden. The path led to the back entrance of the offices.

  Her sisters had seen her photo on the cover of the tabloid last week and called her, so they knew she’d gotten herself into a bind. But she hadn’t really explained anything to them. She’d been in her I-can-handle-it mode of operation. And well, she hadn’t been able to. The kissing picture and more murky shots the tabloids claimed were her as the “mystery woman” had emerged. These photos were not her but there was no convincing anyone of the truth. So here she was. Home with her tail tucked between her legs.

  “Thanks, sis.”

  “Anytime. Cali and I and all the brothers, along with Mom and Dad, have been very worried about you. But we were giving you space. After all, we didn’t know if you and Brad were going to show up and tell us you were getting married—like the tabs claim. Or maybe you would tell us you two lovebirds had already gotten married.”

  Olivia came to an abrupt halt. “You did not believe that? Tell me that you did not believe that.”

  Jillian smiled sweetly; she was the sweetest of all the sisters. “No, of course not. I’m just teasing. Ease up. But you have to admit that was one whopping kiss you two were sharing in those photos. I mean goodness, it’s a wonder you didn’t catch on fire or something.”

  Olivia couldn’t help laughing at that. “Well, a photo is not always truthful.” Boy, was that the truth.

  She tugged open the door and Jillian led the way up the stairs. “Cali is going to be so excited. We are so glad you’re here. It’s been too long, Olivia.”

  “I know.”

  A few minutes later, Cali jumped up from her desk and rushed Olivia like a kid after an ice cream cone. “Olivia!” She swept her into a hug.

  As the older sister,Cali had always been there for the triplets. Now she immediately began giving Olivia the third degree that Jillian had already started.

  “Why didn’t you call? Why didn’t you let us know where you were? Come, sit, and tell us everything.” As she drilled Olivia, Jillian closed the office door so they had privacy. “Why was Brad Pearson kissing you?” Cali finally asked as they all sat down in the seating area in the corner.

  Olivia frowned. “That is a great question. I have no idea.”

  “Have you and him been dating?” Cali asked.

  “No. He is my client. I have had to get that man out of more touchy situations with the media than I can even count without my laptop. The man sleeps with countless women. Married or not, as has been well publicized in the media and the tabloids.”

  Jillian rubbed her temple. “So why? What’s brought this on?”

  Once again, she was baffled. “I truly don’t know. I am completely professional when I am around him. I’m not even attracted to him.”

  “Not at all?” Jillian asked in disbelief.

  Cali held up a hand with her fingers pinched together. “Not even a tiny bit?”

  “No, he’s disgusting. And so was that kiss. I mean yes, he knows how to kiss, but girls, he just grabbed me out of the blue and plastered that thing on me like pancake mix on a cold skillet.”

  Both her sisters burst into laughter.

  “Oh, Olivia, you do have a way with words.”

  “That is so true.” Cali chuckled. “Maybe it’s your humor that got to him.”

  “I’m always serious when I’m with a client. The tabs will eat you alive if you’re not. And the papa—rats-ies”—she emphasized rat—“as you can see, will believe or make believe anything they see.”

  “Did you try talking to them after he kissed you?”

  “I didn’t have time. Brad started laughing happily and pulled me inside the waiting car. Once I was inside, I was just ready to get away from the cameras. I try really hard to always stay out of the cameras. I’m a voice of reason for my clients. I help them make statements more becoming or to get out of situations. I’m not supposed to be in the limelight. Nor do I want to be in it. And now, this.”

  “But you’re good with words. You can tell the truth. Tell them it was nothing.” Jillian’s words and expression were in earnest.

  “They want a story. And I haven’t looked at Twitter or anything but I’m sure by now they know who I am. So if it’s not on there now, by tomorrow not only my face but my name will be everywhere.”

  “Well, that just stinks,” Cali snapped. “But it doesn’t matter. We can handle this.”

  That was just it. Olivia wasn’t sure they could.

  “I need to go see Levi.” Her big brother was the chief of police in Windswept Bay and he needed to know that trouble would likely be showing up today or tomorrow. Unless something huge happened in Hollywood that would take the focus off her. Other than that, the town was about to be full of hedge-hiding, camera-lugging photographers looking to score big any way they could.

  She wasn’t sure suddenly whether coming home had been the right thing to do.

  “Come on.” Cali stood. “Let’s get out of here and go see Levi.”

  Jillian jumped up too. “Let’s do it. We need to warn him before it gets wild. You know how he doesn’t like being uninformed.”

  Olivia’s heart
swelled as she stared up at her sisters. It felt good to be home. To feel their support. She rose and put her arms around each of them and hugged them. “It’s good to be home. I’ve been gone too long.”

  “Yes, you have,” Cali said, gently. “But you have a life away from here and you always know you can come home when you want to for as long or as short a time as you want.”

  Olivia smiled. “So true. But, on the other hand, I feel like I’ve cut and run. And it doesn’t feel right to me.”

  Jillian glared at her. “You are just gathering the wagons, as they say in the West. Nothing wrong with stepping back and assessing the situation. Besides, Hunky Pearson started this. Just tell them the man loves you and you don’t reciprocate. That’ll really stir the pot.”

  Olivia laughed. “I might decide to do that. But first, let’s go talk to Chief Levi.”

  The rain had given way to a blue sky as BJ entered the Windswept Bay Police Station. Levi Sinclair was the police chief and BJ met him after a thug had tried to hijack his boat. Gage had come to reveal to BJ that they were brothers and had interrupted the hijacking and gotten shot trying to help BJ. Only after Levi arrived and they’d all ended up at the hospital while Gage was in surgery did he realize that Gage had stopped by his boat on the way to his wedding. Shar and the wedding party and family had all been at the hospital and it still seemed surreal to BJ, walking into that with Levi beside him. He hadn’t learned until days later, when Gage was being released, that he was Gage’s brother. BJ’s life as he’d believed it to be since he was born had changed that day when Gage told him they were brothers. And told him that his mother had taken BJ as a baby and run away, hiding him from Gage’s dad. His dad.

  Levi was someone he felt he could become friends with and right now he needed a friend. He looked up from his computer when BJ entered.

  “BJ, it’s about time you came around. We were sorry you didn’t show up at the wedding.”

  He hadn’t been ready to accept all the life-changing information at the time of the wedding and so he’d not attended. “I had a lot to deal with. But Gage and Shar stopped by before they left for the airport and we talked. I’m happy for them, but I wasn’t exactly ready to embrace my new past with my life as I’ve always known it. I’m still struggling, actually.”