Jennifer Morey - The Marine's Temptation

“Are you going to go to North Carolina?” Ruby asked.

Beside him, he sensed Georgia’s tension over the desperate hope coming from Ruby.

“I’ll need to in order to talk to some people.”

“Georgia and I could go with you.”

Ruby seemed to want to help, but it was clear that Georgia had other ideas.

“Why don’t we just let Carson handle this?” Georgia said. “You’ve already been through enough. Leave it up to him.”

“It’s much easier if we’re there. We can help him.”

Carson doubted she’d be of much help, but he also wasn’t so sure that was her main reason. More likely, she couldn’t bear to wait to hear what kind of progress he was making. Waiting here would be harder than being there. But if he made no progress, wouldn’t that be worse for her?

“Let’s decide that later,” Georgia said as the carriage came to a stop in front of the barn.

He watched her take in the grandeur of Whit and Elizabeth’s new house with reluctant admiration and decided right then to enjoy proving her wrong about the rich—the Adairs.

* * *

Georgia hopped down from the carriage, still marveling over Whit and Elizabeth’s big house. It was on the ranch property and it was as spectacular as the Spanish hacienda from where they’d just come. This afternoon she’d gazed out over rolling hills of alfalfa fields, horse pastures and citrus groves and several outbuildings. The guesthouse was three times the size of hers in Florida. She didn’t want to be impressed or like it so much, but she was and she did.

Seeing Carson watching her, she marched toward the barn. She didn’t want to be impressed by him, either, but the deft way he’d handled Ruby had softened a part of her heart. He may not be finished talking to her about the kidnapping, but he had enough to go on for now and backed off. She appreciated that. But he didn’t have to know it.

Reaching the open barn doors, where light poured out onto a corral, she stopped. People ate at tables and danced in the middle to a live country music band. There were Adairs everywhere. And nice or not, Carson was part of this family, the one who had treated Ruby so horribly and attracted people like them. Reginald had loved Ruby, but it was his family that had destroyed them. It hadn’t just been losing Jackson.

Georgia didn’t shun all rich people. Not all rich people were snobs or magnets to draw others like them into their circle. People could make a comfortable, secure living without amassing enormous wealth. There was a difference between struggling to get by and making a comfortable living. People didn’t need hundreds of millions or even billions to survive. Yes, the rich created jobs and kept the economy going. But without those who kept the wheels turning, the ones struggling to get by or making a comfortable living, they’d have nothing. People like Reginald and his parents were just plain greedy. And even if one or two in a family managed to remain humble, there was bound to be someone or several who weren’t. As far as Georgia was concerned, getting involved with a rich man wasn’t worth the risk of happiness.

Carson and Ruby stood on each side of her. Everyone looked normal, but Georgia braced herself for the backlash. Ruby was the first to step forward and introduce herself to a young couple. The happy light had returned and she was ready to mingle. Affection and love swelled up in Georgia. She didn’t have any trouble melting right into the crowd. It was as though she’d stepped into another world and wasn’t an average Lake Mary, Florida, resident anymore. Free for the night. Maybe she was remembering what it had been like to be married to Reginald, to be well off. She had loved Georgia’s father, but he hadn’t made millions.

Georgia followed Ruby and was disappointed when Carson joined her. The young couple wandered off and a man about the same age as Ruby appeared before the three of them.

“Carson.” He stuck out his hand. “I heard you were back. So sorry to hear about your parents.”

“Hayden. Good to see you.”

“Who are these lovely ladies you have with you?” He spoke to Ruby, who all but gushed over the attention.

“I’m Ruby Mason. How very nice to meet a charming devil like you.”

Georgia gaped at her stepmother. She’d never seen her act this way before. Maybe she had when she’d met her dad, but Georgia had been so young, she didn’t remember. A traitorous thought came to her: socializing with the rich made her this way.

Hayden spent extra time greeting Ruby, lifting her hand to give it a kiss before saying, “A pleasure.”

Ruby blushed a little, and Georgia was shocked over the transformation in her. Clearly, Ruby loved the attention. Back in Florida, nothing made her shine like that. Most of the time she was sad and lonely.

“Hayden runs a ranch bordering ours,” Carson said.

“Oh,” Ruby said, sounding awed.

Georgia gaped at her again. What was wrong with her?

“What brings you to the Adairs’?”

“Ruby was married to Reginald. She’s Jackson’s mother,” Carson said.

Hayden sobered. “Oh. Tragic. We were all so shocked to find out that Reginald had another son.” He turned to Carson. “Your family certainly has had its share of bad news of late.”

“Yes, but we’ll overcome. An Adair doesn’t give up easily. Whit and I will find Jackson. And we’ll find my father’s killer.”

Hayden turned to Ruby. “Then you’ll be in town awhile?”

“I...” She looked at Georgia and Carson. “We may be taking a trip to North Carolina. That’s where I lived when my son was taken.”

“Too bad. I was going to offer to show you around.”

Wasn’t that a little sudden? Hayden sounded as though he were quietly trying to get her to change her mind and not go to North Carolina so she could stay here and get to know him.

“Oh,” Ruby breathed, clearly delighted he’d made the suggestion. “I would be thrilled to have you show me around. Maybe some other time?”

She’d spend a day with a man she had just met? Georgia was taken aback. Was it his money? Who was this stepmother and what had she done with Ruby? Carson knew the man, so maybe that changed things. That was when an idea struck her.

Distancing Ruby from the search would minimize the amount of pain she suffered along the way. The less involved she was, the easier it would be on her, particularly if they never found Jackson.

“You did say you wanted to see the old lighthouse,” Georgia said.

“Yes.” Ruby looked disappointed.

“And the museums...?”

Ruby stared at Hayden forlornly. “Yes.”

“When are you leaving?” Hayden asked. “Perhaps we can take a day or two.”

“Why don’t you stay here, Ruby? Carson and I can go to North Carolina.” Beside her, Carson turned a sharp look her way. “I’ll call you every day with updates.” If there were any. “You don’t have to be there with us.”

“Oh...I...” Ruby’s happy light began to shine again. That and the shameless flirt Georgia had never met before.

“There’s Beachfront Village I could show you, as well,” Hayden said. “There’s a fabulous place to have lunch there.”

“If you like, you can join up with us later,” Georgia said. Or not. Hopefully, this mutual interest Ruby had with Hayden would keep her here and away from Jackson’s kidnapping investigation.

“Well...if you’re sure.” She smiled coyly at Hayden.

“I’m sure.” She met Carson’s wry look. He knew what she’d just done. At least he didn’t fight her on it. Now all they’d have to worry about was being alone together.

* * *

Carson brought Georgia a glass of wine and put his beer down before sitting beside her at the picnic table they had all to themselves. They had made their way around the barn, and she had met more people than she could possibly remember.