Deep Waters

force behind our decision to get engaged."
    "Thank goodness you came to your senses at the last minute."
    Charity raised her brows. "You mean, thank goodness I had my little breakdown? Let's be honest. I didn't just come to my senses. I went bonkers."
    "You didn't have a breakdown." Meredith glowered. "You just needed to get out from under all the pressure. Something inside you made the decision for you."
    "Call it whatever you want." Charity sighed. "I suddenly realized that night that I couldn't go through with it. I panicked."
    "You had every right to panic. Davis and I had several long talks after you left for Whispering Waters Cove."
    "You did?"
    "We realize now what it must have been like for you, trying to hold the company together after Mom and Dad were killed. Things were in such chaos. You had so many people depending on you. Relatives, employees, suppliers, customers. And you never even liked the business in the first place. You only went into it to please Dad."
    "It was my own fault that I got into that situation with Brett. I should have turned things over to you and Davis much sooner."
    "We weren't ready to run the company until about a year ago," Meredith said simply. "We needed experience. You bought us the time to finish college and learn our jobs. But looking back, do you know what I appreciate the most?"
    "About what?"
    "You."
    Charity was startled. "Me?"
    "Yes, you." Meredith smiled. "You never once made Davis or me feel that we had a duty or an obligation to take over the reins of Truitt. You gave us the freedom to choose. We both realize now that you felt you never had that choice."
    Charity blushed, embarrassed by the admiration she saw in her stepsister's eyes. "Forget it. It's not like I sacrificed my whole life or anything. I just turned thirty, remember? Lots of time left."
    "I know." Meredith's eyes narrowed. "Are you really happy living in that little burg, though?"
    "Yes."
    "Charity, it's been a year. You've had a chance to get yourself back together. Don't you miss good restaurants? The theater? Shopping? And that bookstore of yours is so small. What sort of challenge could it be after Truitt? How can you stand it? Aren't you bored to tears?"
    "It's amazing how much can happen in a little place like Whispering Waters Cove. And I never did like the corporate world. I was born for small business. As I told Elias, it's a calling." Meredith's gaze sharpened.
    "Elias?"
    "Elias Winters."
    "Of Far Seas, Incorporated?"
    "Yes."
    Meredith frowned. "Davis mentioned that Winters had a deal going with the pier."
    "Not really. He runs one of the shops on it, but other than that, there's nothing special happening."
    "Davis implied that Far Seas had something cooking up there in the cove."
    Charity smiled. "How did you know that Elias likes to cook?"
    "I'm serious."
    "It may interest you to know that Elias Winters and Far Seas have recently gone through a few changes, too. Elias has decided to settle in Whispering Waters Cove."
    "Charity, let's get real here. You may have opted to leave the corporate world, but it's unlikely that Winters has done the same thing. He's brokered some very big deals."
    "Yes, I know. But he's not going to sell Crazy Otis Landing to any of his clients."
    Meredith leaned forward. "Davis tells me that he's a little, uh, different."
    "He is."
    "It sounds as if you and Winters have become well acquainted."
    "Actually, we're having a torrid affair."
    Meredith stared at her. "Is that supposed to be a joke?"
    "Nope."
    "An affair with Winters? You can't be serious."
    "Why not?"
    "Because he's Elias Winters." Meredith was clearly both exasperated and appalled. "Far Seas, Incorporated. If he's started an affair with you, it can only be because he's planning to use you somehow in whatever plans he's got for a deal in Whispering Waters Cove."
    "Thanks a lot." Charity grimaced. "Why is it everyone assumes that Elias is using me as a pawn in some nefarious scheme?"
    "Because everyone who knows anything about Winters knows what he's like. Davis did some investigating when you first mentioned him. He says the guy is sort of—"
    "Strange? I know."
    "How about some specifics?" Meredith broke off abruptly as a large shadow fell over the table. "Oh, hello, Brett."
    "Thought I'd join you for coffee." Brett slid onto the banquette beside Meredith. He gave Charity a rueful smile. "To be honest, the suspense was killing me. Everything okay here?"
    "Just fine," Charity said. "We're almost