Elli (A Second Chance Novel Book 1) Read online

  “Elli, I’ve grown weary of this conversation. If you want to talk all this chick stuff, find some woman who gives a shit.” His words were said in even tones but meant to offend her so she’d leave him the hell alone. When he looked at her to see if he’d hit the mark, her eyes crinkled, and she had a Mona Lisa smile on her flushed face. “You don’t have the good sense to know when you’ve been insulted.” More to the truth, the woman saw right through him. That was far worse and it made him damn uncomfortable.

  “Grrr,” she said wrinkling her mouth. “All bark and no bite. You’re like Jenny. You make a big fuss when you’re scared. And Ben Bienvenu, you are scared.”

  “I’ll show you my bite if you keep trying to corner me, cher. Then we’ll see who’s scared.” He flicked a fly off his knee before crossing his arms over his chest, over the heart he’d never admit was pounding hard against his ribs. Elli sighed and leaned back against the old oak. “I don’t think we are communicating.”

  “‘What we have here is a failure to communicate,’” she said smiling. “That’s my favorite line from Cool Hand Luke.” She sighed. “Look Ben, we are communicating just fine. We both just don’t like what the other is saying about what to do with the plantation.” Ben knew she was right. “There’s got to be a compromise we can reach, an escape clause to find, a…something to get us out of the ridiculous terms of the will.” Elli looked heavenward. “Why did you do this to us, Aunt Rosa?” She turned to face Ben. “Do you have any idea?”

  “Hell if I know. It’s damn frustrating to have the money to buy you out, but not be able to do it.” He stood. “I shouldn’t have to share my family home and family legacy with a stranger.”

  “Hmm.” She sighed. “Aunt Rosa had to know you felt that way.” She looked away. “And she hardly knew me or made an attempt to have a relationship with me. So why involve me in your life? Why give me such a complicated gift?” She stood. “I know this was done with intent, but I wonder if it’s something I’ll ever figure out, since I hardly knew her. She’s a mystery to me.” She looked away. “All I do know is what I want and need.”

  Ben looked at her. He didn’t have to ask her what she wanted. That was clear. She had made it clear. She wanted to sell the plantation and make it a freakin’ movie studio. She had already begun that process by getting the movie crew there less than a week after arriving. Damn, but she was good at manipulating things. How in the hell had he let her do that? She made a logical pitch and the money was good. Hell, it had made sense at the time. Selling the plantation never made sense to him. Never would.

  “You know, Elli.” He looked her dead in the eyes. “You can’t have what you want. I won’t let you. I don’t care how good the sex is, it ain’t happening.”

  Elli stared right back at him. “You have no idea what I want or what I’m willing to do to get it or why I’m willing to fight for it.” She poked him in the chest. “So, back off. I’m not like your momma or Rosa or anyone else that skewed your image of women. I have my own history and experiences that bring me to the point I am in my life. I don’t want your money—”

  “Just my plantation,” he interrupted. “Same thing.”

  “Quiet on the set,” a deep, masculine voice shouted, ending their conversation. It was perfect timing as far as Ben was concerned. He had said enough. Now, Miss Movie Producer understood he would never change his mind. What she didn’t know was that another woman had nearly succeeded in taking away what was his. His wife, Sarah. He had thought he loved her, and that she loved him, and he fell into her manipulative plot. She was like his mother, only worse. He had made the same mistake his father had. Never again would that happen. Lesson learned. He and Elli would be physical and have their fling, but never would he allow her to get close enough to him to wreck his life as his deceased wife had.

  Chapter Nine

  In response to the post from –JerseyGirlHairless55…Mourn the loss of your hair for an hour or two or three. Then, shave what wisps are hanging on and be done with it. It’s time to adjust your perspective on going bald. Losing your hair is a positive, visible sign the meds are actually running through your body doing their job! If it is destroying your beautiful robust Jersey girl hair follicle cells, then why can’t it be doing the same to the nasty cancer cells?!!! It’s only hair—the baldness is a temporary thing…and you are here to fight another day!! Redefine the Jersey-girl big-hair cliché’…Maybe you will have Snookie considering a new-do when she sees how fab you look…Bald is beautiful! And, if you hate it, there are amazing wigs that will make your Jersey Girl soul happy. I wish you good health, E.

  Bosom Blog Buddies Post

  Elli parked her car in front of Doug’s cottage, anxious to get her dogs and head back to the house to go to sleep. The argument with Ben weighed heavily on her mind all evening, and she had a headache from trying to think of a way out of their impasse. On top of that, the director worked everyone until eight thirty. She met with the location producer for about fifteen minutes after they called it a wrap for the night and discussed what Sugar Mill needed to do to make the second and final shoot-day run smoothly for both the movie crew and Ben. He told Elli there was a 5:00 a.m. call and 6:00 a.m. start. She had to be there before that to make sure Sugar Mill’s interests were looked after.

  Jenny, Doe, and BJ started barking as soon as she got out of her car. A few other dogs barked in the distance. Instead of going straight to Doug in the cottage, she walked around the side to greet her dogs. They were in the larger of the two fenced yards, turning in circles, jumping and nipping excitedly at each other.

  “My, aren’t you girls happy to see me.” Elli laughed, spotted their leashes hanging on the fence, and grabbed one of them. “Who wants to be first?” Doe pushed forward ahead of the others as Elli nudged past the gate without fully opening it. She knew from experience that would be a mistake. Doe and Jenny were in a cooperative mood and she leashed them without a fuss. BJ wasn’t as willing. She darted away to the back of the yard where it angled behind the cottage. She slid behind a large water trough. “I’m not in the mood for this, BJ. Please have mercy on me.”

  BJ put her front paws on the trough and sat. When Elli approached her, she darted to the corner and went beneath a blue tarp.

  “Don’t think I won’t climb under there to get you.” She hooked Jenny and Doe’s leashes to the water spigot before dropping to her knees. She lifted the edge of the tarp and nearly fell back. There was a powerful odor under there that struck with such force, her eyes began to water and her throat seized into coughs. “Oh my God. Get out of there. BJ come here now.” Elli patted the ground next to her. Come on, girl.” BJ sat next to a pallet of two hip-high stacks of bags, her nose continued to twitch in the air. Elli covered her own nose and mouth with the collar of her shirt as she kept the edge of the tarp lifted. From the illumination of the flood light nearby, she was able to read the tops of some of the stacked bags—perlite soil and humus. She doubted those were what smelled so badly. She suspected it was either something else stacked nearby or what was in the large, rectangular, plastic container with a round cylinder duct-taped to its side. “BJ, out,” she said in her firmest voice. Jenny and Doe started barking and howling, and Elli stood, dropping the tarp back into place. “What are you girls’ problem?”

  “Elli? Is that you?” Doug walked from around the corner of the house. He had a pistol in his hand but immediately tucked it into his waistband.

  “You have my permission to shoot these noisy dogs, especially the one under there.” Elli pointed to the tarp. “Why do these three dogs insist on making my life so difficult? I just want to take them home and go to sleep.”

  Doug smiled as he walked to the tarp, whistling once and calling BJ’s name. The frustrating animal walked out as if she was the most well-mannered creature on earth. Elli latched the leash to her collar.

  “Thank you.” She untangled the leashes for the other two dogs who were still barking at Doug. “That’s enough. Quiet. You kn
ow this man. He feeds you, for goodness’ sake. Doug, I’m sorry.”

  “No problem.” He touched the small of Elli’s back and led her toward the gate. She didn’t sense that he was making a pass with the gesture, but still felt uncomfortable. “You might want to let me know before you wander around on my property next time. I’m packing heat, you know.”

  “Sorry. It’s late. I didn’t want to bother you.” Elli smiled, noticing Doug’s slight limp. “Are you okay? I heard that Doe bit you. I wouldn’t have ever expected it of her.”

  “I’m fine. Dogs can be like people and just have a bad day. Don’t worry about it.” He let her and the dogs move through the gate first and then, with his hand still on the small of Elli’s back, led her to her car. He seemed to be in as much of a hurry for her to leave as she was to leave. Doug opened the car door and helped put the dogs into the backseat.

  “Tomorrow is the last day for the shoot,” she offered. “I’m sorry some of the crew has been so disruptive to the dogs at the kennel.”

  “I got a kick out of some of them. Reminded me of my hippie days.” He nodded and blew out a breath. “The fire marshal stopped by today. He wanted me to tell him what kids I saw loitering on the property.” He shook his head. “I just can’t do it.”

  Elli stood next to the car. “It’s a tough position to be in, Doug, but you don’t want to go to jail because of it. If the kids are innocent, there won’t be a problem. If they are guilty, then they need to face the consequences of their actions. Either way, you can’t withhold information from the law. No one will think less of you for being a law-abiding citizen.”

  “Still feels wrong.”

  Elli heard faint voices in the distance and figured it was the guards stationed near the front gate. “I expect Mr. Cammer will contact me soon, too. He said it would only take a few days to get the pictures on my camera processed in the forensic lab. That is, if it’s even retrievable.”

  Doug didn’t respond. He just looked at her. Elli turned to her car. The sound of voices grew louder, but she still didn’t see anyone. “Is that the guards I hear?”

  He shook his head as if he didn’t know. He opened her car door and Doe began to bark. “You better go before they eat the interior of your car.”

  “Shh. Quiet Doe.” Elli closed the door. She lowered the window to talk to Doug. “Thanks for your help with them, and Doug, I’m really sorry about Doe biting you.”

  “Don’t you know I’d do anything for you, Elli?” Doug leaned into the open window. Doe continued barking. BJ climbed into the front seat, knocking Elli with her hind quarter as she got situated in the passenger seat. “I worry about you,” he continued, trying too hard to sound sincere. Elli had dealt with enough people who wanted something from her to recognize someone sucking-up to her. What in the world could he want from her? “I’m not blind. I can see you and Ben are attracted to one another, but I know that will never work. He’s not an easy man to get along with. He’s self-centered and single-minded. Ben does what Ben wants—without regard for others.”

  Elli was insulted on Ben’s behalf. How could this man be so disloyal when not only did Ben employ him, but he also lived on Ben’s property? “I can take care of myself,” she said, feeling her face heat. “Not that it is any of your concern, but I’m not planning to stick around to have a relationship with Ben. We are forced business partners. And, for the record, Doug, I think you’re wrong about him.” She wanted to tell him ways Ben wasn’t single-minded and self-centered, but she couldn’t think of any. He’d actually been just that way in his dealings with her for the plantation. Of course, she had been, too. And as far as the kennel was concerned, Elli understood that in order to have a successful business, you had to be driven. Single-minded or dedicated and focused? He was that way with Joey, too. He was focused on raising his son, right? Being single-minded for that definitely wasn’t wrong. Was it?

  “You don’t really know him.” Doug persisted. “Ask him how he drove his wife away. Ask him how he took her credit cards and told her all of their money had to go to the kennel. He wouldn’t let her spend it on food or clothes or a little bit of fun. It was all about the kennel. Always has been. The man has the money of Midas, but do you think he could’ve let his wife spend a little of it?”

  “Quiet, Doe,” she scolded. When Doe stopped barking and sat on the edge of the rear seat whining, Elli turned her attention back to Doug. She wasn’t comfortable with his anger or what he was saying. She wanted to defend Ben but could only speak of her gut feelings. She had no history or experiences to counter his accusations. “Doug, I would prefer we not speak of this. I like Ben. I think he is a good person. I like how he treats Joey and Tante Izzy and his family. What happened between him and his wife really isn’t my business.”

  “It’s more your business than you realize,” Doug stated, his tone even but angry. “He didn’t crash her car into the tree, but he may as well have. She was running from him when she died.”

  Dear Lord, what did she tell a grieving father who wanted to blame someone for his daughter’s death? She didn’t doubt that Ben had been a difficult man to be married to. He, no doubt, was hyper-focused on his business and making it succeed. He was probably even protective of his money and paranoid that his wife was after it, considering what he had told her about his mother. But had he driven his wife to her death? No. She couldn’t believe it.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss,” Elli managed to say. “So very sorry.” She couldn’t think of another thing to add. This grieving for someone who died was exactly the reason she didn’t want to ever marry, have children, or have a serious relationship. It was so damn hard on the survivors.

  Doug stood straight and took in a deep breath. He reached into his front shirt pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Doe began to growl, again. “Bad habit,” he said.

  “I didn’t know you smoked.” Elli watched as he lit a cigarette and took a long drag with his eyes closed, exhaling slowly. He looked like a man crawling through a desert then taking his first drink. Doe didn’t appreciate his need to smoke and lunged over Elli’s shoulder to snap at the cigarette in Doug’s hand. “Down, girl.” Doe sat but continued growling.

  “You go on home. Get your rest. The girls will be up early, demanding your attention.”

  “Not as early as the director’s call.” Before she started the car, she listened for the voices she had heard earlier, but it was quiet now. Maybe it was time for the change of guards and they were talking excitedly. She started the car engine as Doe and Jenny both tried to climb into the front seat at the same time. Jenny’s wet snout bumped against Elli’s neck, her heavy paw imbedded in her thigh. Doe’s tail swiped Elli in the face as she shoved her way onto the seat with BJ. Jenny settled on the center console and knocked the car into gear. The Mercedes jerked forward, but Elli was able to slam on the brakes before they hit the wooden fence. “Sorry,” she told Doug. “I’d back away from us if I were you…no telling what mayhem they will get me into.”

  Doug stepped back. “Good night, Elli.”

  “Good night.” With great effort, she shoved Jenny aside to engage reverse.

  Elli drove down the long shell road toward the plantation house. She thought about the anger in Doug’s voice and eyes when he spoke of Ben. If he felt so negatively about Ben, why did he work and live beside him? Was it because of Joey? Did being close to Joey make him feel closer to his daughter? Elli wasn’t sure. She didn’t really know anything about Ben’s wife, just her name, Sarah Leblanc. Did she have any siblings? Did Doug have any other children? Where was her mother? Was she still alive? If she was, why didn’t she live with Doug? Elli shook her head. This was not something she needed to worry about. She had to stay focused on the one thing that had brought her to Sugar Mill Plantation. Worrying about the people who lived there just complicated things. She needed to sell the plantation. Tomorrow, she would talk to the producer and director to let them know that Sugar Mill was for sale and present them
with the brochure she had completed at four in morning with photographs she found on line and taken with her new camera. Abby was happy with the way it turned out and was already sending it to a few potential buyers. With any luck, the plantation would have a serious buyer soon. With any luck, she could convince Ben to sell.

  Elli saw the lights of the plantation ahead of her, around the last curve. She had to relax and get some sleep tonight. She glanced at BJ and Doe, happily hanging their heads out the window, enjoying the cool, moist night air blowing on their faces. Jenny yawned next to Elli and eased down further onto the console. Her heavy body knocked the gear shifter again, shoving it into reverse. Elli’s car made an awful grinding sound and flew backward, right into the ditch running alongside the road. The tires continued to spin as Doe and BJ righted themselves from where they flew on top of one another on the front seat. Jenny was in Elli’s lap, and it took a moment for Elli to realize what happened. When she saw the smoke billowing around her, she threw the car into park and turned off the engine. She looked outside the window and saw a small fire crackling in dry grass near where her tires had been spinning.

  She grabbed her cell phone and rushed out of the car. It was a small fire, but her car’s back end was close to it. “Oh God! She rushed back into the car, yanked the dogs out by their leashes, and let them go. “Don’t get in my way,” she shouted, racing to the trunk. Jenny and Doe were circling her feet, barking and howling. BJ had taken off down the road. “BJ, come back here,” she shouted, opening the trunk and grabbing the blanket she kept inside.