Breathless on the Beach

Victoria blinked. Humor was largely lost on this gathering. David was clearly witty as well as efficient. About thirty years old, he had blond hair, a plain face and wasn’t wildly attractive, but was dressed impeccably in a charcoal suit, which made her certain he knew his way around uptown Manhattan.

“How long have you been with Sal?” she asked him.

“Six months. I worked in the city for years and was burning out fast.”

Victoria nodded. Though she thrived on the energy there, she knew others who didn’t. The pace could be brutal.

“I decided to change course,” David continued. “Now the most challenging feat I accomplish is managing Sal’s social calendar. It’s heaven.”

Victoria would go nuts in thirty seconds. But David looked tanned and content, so it must be working for him. He’d consulted with Rose on the decorations for the grand Sunday night party, and since he’d found himself at loose ends for the weekend, he’d been included among the houseguests at the last minute.

Rose laughed just then, drawing Victoria’s attention. Jared was leaning close, obviously the source of amusement. How nice.

If only she didn’t have to look across the table at his handsome profile, she could remember she wasn’t here for hot kisses and moonlit nights. She was here to get a contract.

But the man was a serious pleasure to have in her sights.

Rose laid her hand alongside Jared’s rugged jaw as she spoke to him, and his smile flashed.

Okay, maybe Victoria was a little jealous.

While Mrs. K cleared the dishes, Sal settled back in his chair with a satisfied smile. “You should tell your guests about the history of your necklace, my dear.” His pale blue eyes sparkled. “It’s quite a tale.”

“Well …” Rose gestured with her right hand, the middle finger of which was dominated by what had to be at least a seven caret yellow diamond. “Sal is right, as always. First off, it’s rumored to be cursed by jealousy.”

Peter froze with his lips against his water goblet. Victoria’s gaze flicked to Jared before returning to Rose. And Emily’s attention shot to her husband’s profile.

Not that anybody at this table would know anything about jealousy.

With that thought, Victoria recalled the adventure she and her friends had embarked on in the spring, project Robin Hood.

Shelby’s parents had been the victims of a retirement swindle. And with the cops not taking a serious interest in the case, the three friends had boldly taken the law into their own hands and gotten justice for those they loved.

As it turned out, envy had had a starring role in this latest tale, as well.

Tracing the edge of the diamond-encircled sapphire, Rose continued her story. “The sapphire is 99 carats and was mined in Sri Lanka in the 1920s. The diamonds were added by an expert jeweler and set into a necklace for Olivia Howinger, a famous European actress of the day. Her beauty drove men to madness. Alabaster skin, radiant blue eyes, and of course, she was a redhead.” Rose patted her own auburn curls. “But the man who finally captured her heart was a hotheaded Italian count. Unfortunately for both of them, the attention Olivia received from men didn’t end at her marriage. They continued to send her flowers and gifts, flirt with her at parties and restaurants. The count was beside himself with jealousy and determined to make himself the sole focus of his wife’s attention.

“So he had the necklace commissioned and presented to her on her birthday. Which only served to bring more attention to Olivia. One night, he walked into a busy French restaurant, expecting to see his wife waiting for him at their favorite table, only to find another man in his seat. The count shot them both on the spot.”

“How horrible,” Emily whispered, as if the scene were playing out before them.

“In a delicious way,” Rose said, winking. “The necklace was sold at the auction of the count’s estate after he was hanged, and ever since, it’s inspired envy and possessiveness in all who’ve laid eyes on its flawless beauty.”

Calla, Sal and Peter clapped. David shifted in his seat. Victoria’s gaze found Jared’s, and the heat between them surged brief ly, before he glanced away again. They weren’t compatible in the least, she reminded herself, and the sooner she accepted that, the easier this weekend would be.

“Bravo, darling,” Sal said, patting Rose’s hand.

Though it was an engaging story, real people had died. It seemed incredible that a single woman or a sparkling blue rock could cause so much suffering, but kingdoms had risen and fallen for less.

And while Victoria loved pretty things and had her share of sparkles, she couldn’t understand wanting to own something with such a bloody history. Rose was an entirely different kind of woman.

Notorious is as notorious does.

“Thankfully, she has a foolproof safe to keep the gems out of greedy hands,” Richard said, his expression smug.

Rose smiled indulgently at her son. “What would I do without you, dear?”

For a second, Ruthie looked as though she might suggest something—and not a nice something—but then she pushed back her chair. “Why don’t we have coffee and dessert in the sunroom? The sunset is lovely from there.”

As they all walked toward the back of the house, Victoria found herself behind Jared and Calla. “Quite a story,” her friend said to him.

“It’d make a nice sidebar to your magazine piece,” he suggested, angling his face toward her.

When had they discussed Calla’s article? During the Jet Ski ride Victoria wasn’t interested in so she wouldn’t mess up her hair? Why did that suddenly seem stupid and superficial? And why did he and Calla have to look so lovely together?

Calla shook her head. “I doubt Rose would let me take pictures for publication. I sure wouldn’t want everybody to know I owned something so valuable.”

“I doubt Rose will care,” Jared said. “She’s got a foolproof safe, after all.”

When Calla laughed, Victoria took the opportunity to move around the two and make her way out to the patio, where she pretended to concentrate on the sunset.

She couldn’t possibly be jealous of her friend, any more than she had been of Rose during dinner. Victoria didn’t work herself up into a lather about men. And she certainly didn’t care who Jared spoke to, flirted with, or anything else.

Her attraction to him was an anomaly. Any woman would be fascinated by him. But Victoria didn’t generally follow the crowd. She’d always forged her own path, no matter how hard it might seem.

That damn necklace probably was cursed by jealousy. Had to be. Why else was she fuming in the middle of a magnificent sunset?

She should be with Richard, regaling him with her brilliant ideas for the campaign. In fact … was there a way to convince him and Rose to use the necklace in print ads? I trust my son with my most valuable possessions. Shouldn’t you?

Cute and sweet, but with the added hits of scandal and class.

It was a possibility. Or at least a place to start.

Cheered, she joined everyone else in the sunroom in time to hear Jared suggest a boat ride after dessert. All the guests agreed, and Ruthie insisted Mrs. K and Shelby come along, as well.

On the way to the dock where the small yacht was anchored, several people complimented Shelby and the housekeeper on the delicious meal. Mrs. K beamed, and Shelby accepted the comments with her usual modest professionalism. Victoria felt certain that even if this weekend did nothing for her or Calla, Shelby would gain new bookings.

With the sun’s heat fading, and a breeze kicked up by the elegant boat cutting through the waves, the night had turned divine.

Victoria stood at the stern, watching the wake chop the sea to a frothy tower of white. How long had it been since she’d let her hair tangle as salty wind whipped against her skin?

Her parents had a place near Rose’s. She rarely came out. She was too busy working, making contacts, bustling around the city. No wonder Jared enjoyed his job so much.

Not that she’d trade her future corner office for a faceful of sea spray, but she could understand the appeal.

“Hi, sweetie,” Shelby said as she slid her arm around Victoria’s waist. “Catching a wave?”

Victoria extended her hand over the side of the boat, felt the cool sprinkle of droplets. “Nearly.”