Best Laid Plans. Brenda Jackson

the detached garage, which made it easier to bring in her luggage, as well as the items she had stopped by the grocery store for and purchased. She wasn’t a big eater, so the food should be enough to last the week she would be here. Other than eat, sleep, read and drink wine, she didn’t plan to do much of anything else. It was time off she otherwise would not have taken if she hadn’t won this trip and for that reason, she intended to get the most out of it.

      And she intended to put that call from Damien out of her mind. She couldn’t believe he’d called after all this time...and to apologize. It was too late for that now. His leaving Houston and moving to New York had been best for the both of them. Her feelings had been raw and she couldn’t imagine them in the same city and running into each other. She’d been given time to get over him and she had. Whoever said “Out of sight and out of mind” knew exactly what they’d been talking about.

      Refusing to let thoughts of Damien ruin her week here at the cottage, she moved across the porch to sit on the swing. She smiled, thinking how nice it was here. Even the weather was agreeable. Since this was March the weather was still cool. Too cool for her to think about taking a swim today. However, the good news was that forecasters had predicted the coming days would be nice and sunny. She figured all those students on spring break whose destination was the beach next week would appreciate that.

      The first thing she’d done after arriving and unpacking had been to take a nap. Now she was up, well rested and ready to explore what would be her private place on the island. Getting up from the swing, she stretched before going inside the house. After grabbing a light jacket, she moved toward the kitchen. Moments later she was outside and happily walking toward the bay.

      * * *

      IT WAS LATE evening when Nolan pulled into the drive. He could have arrived sooner, but when he’d got to his great-aunt Caroline’s house, he decided to hang out with a few of his cousins that he hadn’t seen in a while. Then there was the fact that his great-aunt had cooked a mouthwatering meal as well as his favorite dessert of peach cobbler since she’d known he was coming.

      Deciding not to put his car in the garage for the time being, he got out of it and looked around. He loved coming here and had known he’d wanted to buy it the first time the Realtor had shown it to him. Less than an hour’s drive from Houston, it was one of those places he could get to in a reasonable time. He often regretted having decided to list it as a rental because it wasn’t always available for him to use whenever he wanted. Instead of getting into his SUV and driving here on Friday nights and staying the entire weekend whenever he felt like it, now he had to check with his property manager to make sure no one had rented it.

      At least he’d got here before dark. He intended to build a fire in the pit, pour a glass of scotch and chill for a minute. He had talked to Corbin during the drive here and his brother hadn’t been surprised with Victoria’s attitude. The women in the family seemed to be more accepting of Mama Laverne’s interference in their lives than the men. It was apparent that Victoria had it in her head Mama Laverne would hook her up with a love match made in heaven.

      Entering the house, he lifted a brow when he saw the huge basket sitting on a table in the living room. That was thoughtful of Ron to do that and he wondered if it was something his property manager had begun doing for all renters. If so, such a kindhearted gesture would definitely have renters returning.

      Nolan walked over to the basket, grabbed an apple, rubbed it against the thigh of his jeans and then bit into it. It was good. Sweet and juicy, just the way he liked his apples. Leaving the living room, he went into the kitchen and saw a can of coffee, bags of chips and a case of bottled water on the counter.

      When Nolan opened the refrigerator he discovered it fully stocked as well. He smiled, thinking his property manager had definitely outdone himself. Was he vying for more than just the 15 percent cut he was getting? Ron’s contract was up for renewal in a couple of months. Was that the reason he’d gone out of the way to make sure Nolan had everything he needed? Bread, eggs, butter, milk... Although he wasn’t sure why Ron had purchased the 2 percent kind. But he had redeemed himself with the wine coolers.

      Nolan smiled while thinking not only would his property manager’s contract get renewed, but the man might even get a raise on top of it. Tossing the last of the apple in the trash, he grabbed a bottle of water and had taken a huge swig when suddenly the back door opened and someone gasped. He swung around and nearly choked on the water.

      The one woman he hadn’t expected to see for a long time, if ever, was standing before him. Ivy Chapman. And from the expression on her face it was quite obvious that she was just as shocked to see him as he was to see her. He tried not to notice how different she looked now compared to a few days ago. Her hair was no longer tied in a knot on her head, but flowed wildly around her shoulders in thick yet soft-looking curls. Her hair styled this way made her mocha-colored face appear rounder, her cheekbones higher and her neck more slender.

      She was still wearing her glasses, and like before, he thought the eyes behind the frames were beautiful. Mesmerizing. And those glasses seemed tilted on a cute little nose. Today she was dressed far more casual with a pair of cutoff jeans and a clingy T-shirt. Both showed off luscious curves and a gorgeous pair of legs. With legs that looked like hers, he thought wearing a long skirt to cover them was such a waste.

      “Why are you here?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.

      He leaned against the counter, trying for it not to be so obvious that his gaze was raking her up and down to get a good view of her legs and admiring her sexy lips. “I’m here because I own the place.”

       CHAPTER SIX

      IVY STARED AT NOLAN, hoping she hadn’t heard him correctly but a part of her knew she had. How in the world had Nana and Ms. Laverne managed to pull this off? She didn’t have to ask herself why they’d done such a thing, because she already knew the reason. They assumed she and Nolan were perfect for each other but they were so wrong on that account.

      And why did Nolan appear taller than he had that morning at his office? Now she had to tilt her head nearly all the way back to look up at him. And why was she noticing that he was even more handsome than before? Instead of a business suit he was dressed in a pair of well-worn jeans and a pair of roughed boots. And why was his lean waist, firm stomach, perfect tight abs and muscled shoulders showing in a well-defined way through the cotton material of his T-shirt? Her senses felt overloaded.

      “I can’t believe this,” she said, pushing away from the door to cross the room and sit down at the table. All she could do was shake her head at how easily she’d been conned. “I should have known. I never win contests.”

      “A contest?” Nolan asked.

      She nodded, feeling like a fool. “This was Nana and Ms. Laverne’s doing.”

      “That I believe,” he said, clearly putting the pieces together.

      Ivy was grateful for that. There was no doubt in her mind that he was just as outraged and disgusted as she was. “Thanks.”

      “How did you get here?” he asked, finally moving from where he was standing to join her at the table.

      “I drove.”

      “Where’s your car? I didn’t see another vehicle in the yard when I arrived.”

      “I put it in the garage.” She released a frustrated sigh. “I honestly didn’t suspect a thing. I got a call early in the week that claimed I had won a week’s stay here from a contest run by a dry cleaner that I frequent.”

      His brow lifted. “What’s the name of the cleaners?”

      “Altamonte Dry Cleaners.”

      He nodded slowly and then said, “That part explains things.”

      “How?” She wanted to know.

      He leaned back in the chair and she tried not to notice how good he smelled. He was wearing the same