Heart Breakers

By Eleanor Cocreham

A secret government agent is sent to investigate the diamond empire of its unsuspecting owner, a widow with young twin daughters. She becomes involved with the handsome, charismatic man until her kidnapped child and missing diamonds expose his identity. Forgiveness becomes a challenge for each if they are to mend their broken hearts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781597050371

Book preview

All I can say is, Hold on to your seats. Eleanor Cocreham has outdone herself in Heart Breakers, the third book in her trilogy. Escape the mundane and enter the glamorous, whirlwind life of the Wanamakers. Handsome, debonair Jamie and drop-dead, gorgeous Calleigh make for an explosive combination. And Eleanor knows how to push all the right buttons. The story will leave you clamoring for more.

Sylvia Rochester

Author

www.sylviarochester

Heart Breakers

Lady Eleanor has done it again. A tight well- written romantic suspense, invites you into a world that you would not suspect of having a dark underbelly.

Ms. Cocreham has woven a tale that is full of both suspense and romantic tension. The threads of the story are as tautly drawn as strings on a fine violin and played to create a symphony of love lost and love redeemed. She skillfully draws all the story lines to a satisfying and unexpected conclusion.

A recent widow myself, I found the story to be filled with hope and redemption.

This is going on my keeper shelf and I think it should find room on everyone’s. You won’t be disappointed. 4.5.Pawprints

Dee Carey

Foxpaw Reviews

www.thefoxlady.com

For the third time, Eleanor Cocreham has turned her knack for glitz and glam into another intriguing story featuring the wealthy, globe-trotting Wanamakers. In Heart Breakers, special agent Jaime Wanamaker is assigned to investigate Calleigh Maxwell, the beautiful young widow of a diamond magnate, and her possible involvement in a diamond smuggling operation. When a matter of business becomes a matter of the heart, both Jamie and Calleigh struggle with complications that threaten to separate them forever. Another page turner!

Elaine Grant

www.elainegrant.com

www.myspace.com/eygrant

HEART BREAKERS

Eleanor Cocreham

A Wings ePress, Inc.

Contemporary Romance Novel

Edited by: Gina Cadorette

Copy Edited by: Jeanne Smith

Senior Editor: Anita York

Executive Editor: Marilyn Kapp

Cover Artist: Trisha Fitzgerald

All rights reserved

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Wings ePress Books

Copyright © 2010 by Eleanor Cocreham

ISBN 978-1-59705-037-1:

Published by Wings ePress, Inc. at Smashwords

Wings ePress Inc.

3000N. Rock Road

Newton, KS 67114

Dedication

To my husband Bill, my children, Bill, Jr., Chris, Hope, Lauryn and their loving, encouraging families who fill my life with happiness.

Acknowledgments:

To Kenneth and Ken for sharing their knowledge of diamonds, Ruth for her willingness to read rough drafts, critique partners Elaine and Sylvia for reining me in, and the many friends and fans who answer my question and share my journey. Special thanks to granddaughter Tracy and the Wings family for making the story its best.

One

Whack!

Once again, the ball flew far right of the practice area. Calleigh shook her head at the slice. Doubting her sanity in agreeing to play in the upcoming tournament, she muttered in frustration, Two straight days of practice, and I still can’t control that shot.

She jammed the club into her big golf bag, stripped off her glove, and wiped her face on her shirt sleeve leaving smears of makeup on the fabric. Perspiration dripped into her eyes. She yanked off her hat to swipe it away and caught sight of her watch. Oh, damn. She had to hurry. Her twins were waiting.

A guy wearing gold aviators and a cap bearing the Links Point logo stood near the golf shop. She didn’t care if he was a caddy or just an employee; she needed him to carry her bag to her automobile. She waved, then clenched her teeth when he just looked at her. She motioned again, searching for tip money in the pockets of her rumpled shorts.

The man glanced around and behind him as if to make sure he was the one she summoned. He ambled forward finally, his blatant perusal making her aware of the sweat-dampened shirt plastered to her body. Tired and perspiring profusely in the ninety degree heat, she grew impatient with the man’s unhurried approach and insulting gaze. If she could find whoever hired this arrogant guy, she’d fire him.

He reached the elevated tee box but made no move to pick up her bag. Calleigh pushed back the wisps of hair still sticking to her cheeks and, without making eye contact, dropped the dollar bills on her bag and motioned to the white convertible in the parking lot. Put them on the back seat.

She felt his gaze fly over her again when he reached for the bag and pocketed the bills. Flushing, something she seldom did, she ducked her head and headed for the pro shop.

Half way there she stopped and turned to see if he was following her directions. He was, close behind, almost bumping into her, carrying the heavy, cumbersome clubs without effort. He stopped too, as if waiting for more instructions. She glanced up and up and up and swallowed hard, blinking to clear her vision of his engaging looks. Wow! Despite poor work ethics, this six-foot, six-inch, blond hunk would be pure eye candy for the women golfers. Once those ladies got a glimpse of him, lessons would be in great demand. Not to mention the membership tripling in their Golf Association.

Slightly breathless, she muttered, The car’s parked by the building. You can’t miss it.

Then whipping around, she hurried to the newly furbished building. A freshly poured concrete walk and flower beds of petunias and marigolds barred the front entrance to the golf shop, forcing her to skirt the area and enter through the ladies’ locker room. She slipped off her golf shoes and socks, placed them beside the path, and picked her way carefully between more new plants. The dirt was not as dry as she anticipated, and mud covered her feet when she finally reached the doorway and greeted the assistant golf pro who was busy unpacking boxes.

He grinned and, seeing her dilemma, grabbed a towel and tossed it to her.

Sorry, Ernie, she said returning his smile.

That’s okay, Mrs. M. I try to keep paper over the new rug with the sprinklers at work, but merchandise arrives daily. Until we get everything put away in here, we’ll just have to live with the trafficking.

Let’s just be thankful the landscaping looks so good for the opening festivities and tournament, which I believe will be a success. I just wish my game was better.

Ernie’s gaze filled with sympathy. Everyone knows you’ve had a tough time. You’ll do okay once play gets underway. It’s not as though you’re new to the game, plus you have another week to practice.

Calleigh nodded. I know, but I’d sure hate to embarrass my team. She glanced back toward the storage area looking for the pro. Tom promised to work on my shots. Where is he?

Had a dental appointment. Said he might not make it back this afternoon.

Well, tell him to save me an hour in the morning. That slice is really bad.

Sure. I’ll leave a note.

Calleigh glanced at her watch again and smiled at the two young men unpacking the boxes. I’d love to help you guys put all this merchandise away, but with school out, the twins will be at home by now. By the way, Ernie, I met one of your new employees. He sure could use some help with his social skills.

Which one?

That big, tall guy.

Haven’t met him. With all the activity, I haven’t noticed who’s been hired. But then I haven’t had time to notice much of anything with stuff coming in daily. Especially anyone new. Do you need your clubs cleaned? One of us can do it now.

No thanks. I’m taking them home in case I get a chance to practice after the heat subsides.

Well, tell Cass and Sam ‘hi’ for me.

Will do. And don’t forget to give Tom my message.

Ernie waved her off. She skirted the flowerbeds as best she could, retrieved her shoes and put on her socks to cross the hot pavement to her car. Inside, she removed the socks, slid into her sandals and donned the sunglasses she’d left on the seat. She glanced backwards to check for on-coming cars in the parking area and burst into laughter. The impressive looking pro or caddie with the dazzling smile might be lazy and insolent, but he wasn’t slow witted. A large placard loomed from her golf bag with the warning ‘keep off the flowers.’

~ * ~

Another broad smile creased Jaime Wanamaker’s face as he stepped out from behind the pro-shop’s new azalea bushes and retrieved the sign the frazzled blond had thrown to the ground. After replacing it against the side of the building, he strode to his Range Rover, pulled off his cap and wiped the sweat from his forehead. How people in this southern city of Baton Rouge survived such heat this early in the season amazed him. What idiots played golf with the humidity hovering at one hundred percent?

He quickly unlocked the Rover’s door, revved up the air conditioner and drove out of the lot, keeping the white convertible in sight. Following Calleigh Maxwell’s Jaguar XRK, he grinned again. Classy lady to drive that jazzy model.

He dug into his pants pocket and pulled out his phone, punching in a familiar number. I jumped the gun and checked out the grieving widow. Somehow you forgot to mention she is hot.

I figured you’d discover that soon enough, a gruff voice responded. Damn it, JW, you should have waited for an introduction to that wealthy, southern woman. How did you make the connection?

Jaime ignored his chief’s sarcasm. I went to check out the golf course wearing a club cap. Seeing me standing by the pro shop, she assumed I was the hired help and hailed me to carry her golf bag. He laughed. Even tipped me.

Caddy, huh. Not bad. I should have thought of that.

Forget it. Caddies don’t get invited to Theo Maxwell functions.

He’s dead. Remember?

Yeah. But this little lady isn’t, and she’s running the show here. I intend to enjoy all the perks. Especially the parties.

Don’t you always?

Hey, that’s why you love me. Be happy. I bugged her auto and sunglasses with your new gadget. Those bugs are so small and clear she’ll never detect them. Outside the home I’ll know where she is at all times. She’s mine now, bud.

Only to observe. Just try to remember why you’re there, the voice barked into Jaime’s ear.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jaime laughed and hung up.

Keeping his distance behind the woman’s auto, Jaime made sure the delectable looking woman driving competently but cautiously was unaware she had a tail to the gated community adjacent to the sprawling golf course. She approached the fenced entrance and he slowed, pulled to the side of the street and reached for his Steiner binoculars. With their 10x50 power, he could keep an object under surveillance from twenty yards to infinity. Her fingers tapped the keypad opening the gate, and he stored the code numbers to memory.

~ * ~

Calleigh waited for the gates to open and checked the grounds for any sign of disturbance or intruders. Nothing was out of place. Entering, she drove slowly down the drive to the circle in front of the house where her two small daughters and Margaret, the housekeeper, waited on the porch. The little girls, decked out in their new bathing suits, waved and raced down the steps and out to the car before she climbed from the front seat.

Can we? Can we? they screamed in unison, almost knocking Calleigh down in their exuberance.

Calleigh righted herself and gathered them to her with a hug. I don’t know. May we?

Yessssss—come see! they squealed, pulling her forward.

Happy that she could bring some joy back into her little girls’ lives, she allowed them to drag her around the house and across freshly mowed grass to the back terrace.

Unable to control their excitement, the girls dropped her hands and raced ahead. Calleigh called a warning. Not too close!

She reached the twins’ sides and saw them staring raptly at the new pool finally filled with water. Their smiles brought a hitch in Calleigh’s breath. If Theo could see their little faces wreathed in smiles now, surely he would forgive her going against his wishes when she had the swimming pool installed.

She paused to admire the extraordinary work done by Emily Randolph, the wife of the architect who’d restored her country club. As a licensed landscape designer, Emily more than exceeded Calleigh’s expectation. Calleigh gazed at the palms in massive planters and the blood red bougainvillea blossoms trailing from the eight-foot-tall pedestals. The trellised fences with their thick foliage of fragrant jasmine and wisteria vines provided the complete privacy she sought.

Though eager to please the girls, she took another moment to watch the overflow from the large upper-terrace fountain spill into the pool below. In the sunshine, the water glittered like fine liquid crystals. But at night, illuminated by imbedded wall lights, that waterfall transformed into a sheet of gleaming silver.

Calleigh joined the girls and led them to poolside chairs. Your father was very protective of you around water. Do you remember why?

The children nodded.

Because he lost a son in a drowning accident, he would want you to be cautious. Margaret will stay with you until I put on my suit so do not enter the water. I’ll change quickly. Now promise.

The seven-year-olds looked at each other and sighed dramatically. Cass, the more vocal of the two, nodded, her brown ponytail bouncing. We promise. But hurry, please, Mom.

Calleigh was aware she was asking a lot from the girls since they’d lost their father. They hadn’t understood the reason she’d sent them away to their Aunt Alamera was to spare them the agony of watching him die. Building the pool had been a concession for that decision.

She hurried to the house and upstairs to her bedroom. Quickly shedding her clothes, she pulled on the suit she’d last worn on the luxurious Silver Star cruise Theo had taken her on before his heart trouble prevented him from traveling long distances. She barely glanced at the mirror, yet couldn’t help but notice the loose fit of the black maillot. The suit revealed the pounds she’d shed living through the trauma of her husband’s devastating illness. Pounds she could ill afford to lose.

She arrived at the pool to see the twins sitting on the steps at the shallow end with their feet in the pool. Not having the heart to chastise them, she pulled them further into the water.

The twins responded to Calleigh’s patient instructions and did surprisingly well for their first lesson. They learned to hold their breath, dunk their heads and float. When their attention began to wane, she let them play before drying them off and taking them inside.

After bathing and feeding the girls, Calleigh settled them before the television with their favorite Hanna Montana DVDs and retired to the library to mull over the guest lists for the party she was to host the weekend following. The gala, taking place on the Friday night preceding the club’s grand opening ceremonies, was Theo’s idea, and she was not going to cancel the event no matter how much she wanted to do so.

Seated at Theo’s desk checking the list, she scanned the names of his golf buddies, investment partners, local and state politicians and charter members of his latest venture known as Links Point. Although the invitations had gone out weeks before, calls were already coming in for the extra invitations she’d set aside for just such a purpose. She sighed, wishing both the party and tournament over.

She turned to the lists of planned arrangements, noting how competently Theo’s staff took care of details. Theo had loved entertaining so his long-standing, very capable housekeeper painstakingly recorded every detail necessary to provide food, beverage services and decorations for as many as three hundred people.

Calleigh silently thanked the woman for the decision making and closed the books, rose and stretched. She turned out the lights and went to the playroom to get the twins. The room was empty and she realized Margaret had put them to bed for her. The girls were sound asleep in their large pink bedroom with the storybook murals they had helped to paint. She’d noticed that Samantha, the more creative of the two, had a very steady hand, which would be an asset should she decide to be a designer in her father’s business.

Calleigh stood looking down at them in the faint light provided by the miniature lights that twinkled in the painted white clouds overhead. In time Sam would outgrow her fear of the dark, but until that time came, the household staff had orders to always leave them on while the children slept.

Oh, Theo, if only you’d lived long enough to see how they’ve grown, their cute toothless grins and how happy they were today. Despite your refusal to have a pool, you’d have been proud of their first swim lesson. I taught them to have healthy respect for the water which was uppermost in my mind, and I think I succeeded. They’re good little athletes, having inherited their attributes from the both of us. In no time they’ll be swimming like fish.

She leaned down and lightly kissed their soft, smooth cheeks and started to her room to retire. Too restless for bed, knowing she’d only toss and turn, she returned to the den, dimmed the lights and wandered out onto the terrace. The pool glistened in the moonlight as though beckoning to her. The memory of how soothing the water felt earlier surfaced. She switched on the lights behind the waterfall, shed her clothes and slipped beneath the water’s surface.

She lapped the pool twice, her strong strokes silent barely rippling the water’s surface. She flipped and floated on her back, gazing at the brilliant stars glowing in the night sky.

Finally relaxed enough to sleep, she pulled herself out of the pool and stood beneath the cascade of water, letting the shimmering spray course over her. Feeling languid beneath the pulsing assault, she wrapped her arms across her chest and hugged herself. Oh Theo, I do miss you. Who will love me as you did?

Without warning, the image of a man’s face appeared before Calleigh. She gasped and stumbled backwards, almost falling into the pool. She raked the water from her long hair, grabbed a towel from a nearby stack, and switched off the water lights. To erase the unwelcomed likeness of a tall man with blonde hair and an engaging smile in a tanned face, she pulled on her shirt, grabbed the rest of her clothes and fled inside.

Two

Jamie let out his breath. He wiped off the lens of his night-vision binoculars and tried to forget the sight of the lovely widow sans clothing. Impossible. That image would last forever. No more than he deserved, lurking in the dark.

He left his observation spot and stayed within the shadows of the trees and bushes until he reached the outer fence and scaled it as he’d done earlier. Unobtrusive in his black clothing, he casually approached his Rover parked beyond the range of a gas-lighted street pole.

Maintaining an unhurried appearance, he unlocked the door, reached for a khaki jacket to cover his somber attire and climbed in, relieved he’d remembered to disengage the interior lights. Before he buckled his seat belt, he stored both his black cap and binoculars in the glove box, locked it and drove across town while plotting his next moves.

Valet parking took care of his automobile when he reached his suite motel, and he flirted briefly with the forty-something female desk clerk who hastened to retrieve his messages.

An anticipated ivory colored envelope caught his attention, and he took a moment to rip open the flap. The engraved script brought a smile to his lips. The invitation, forwarded to him by his father. Thanks, Pop. No more sneaking around in the dark. His entry into Theo Maxwell’s inner sanctum was a go.

He entered his room, removed the Privacy card he’d left on the door, and scrutinized his surroundings, something he always did before settling into a hotel room. Satisfied no one else had been inside, he double-locked the door, went into the bedroom, threw all he carried on the bed, and turned on the TV, muting the volume. He shed his clothes and headed for the shower.

A long time under cool water relieved the stress of the past hours. He wrapped a towel around his waist and plopped on the bed. Leaning back against the headboard, he stretched out his legs and dragged his laptop into position across his thighs. Inserting the small memory chip he’d hidden in his shaving kit’s false bottom, he logged in and reread what he’d typed in earlier. Entire compound patrolled hourly by homeowners-paid security guards. No dogs. Alarm system complex but can be breached. Middle-aged, live-in housekeeper but no other in-house servants.

Adding to the memo, he noted that the fence wasn’t wired and his night surveillance uneventful. Like hell! Any more eventful and he’d be shivering under an even colder shower.

Jaime yawned, clicked out of his computer, removed and stored the memory bit and turned off the bedside light. His last thought before falling asleep with a lazy smile was of a lithe form with slick, silver blonde hair, lush breasts and long slender legs.

~ * ~

Calleigh’s hands trembled so she could barely zip her dress. The broad spectrum of guests due to arrive in less than an hour never failed to unnerve her. In spite of her staff’s assurance that every possible contingency had been dealt with, she wanted Theo’s presence there to boost her courage as he always had. Oh, what she’d give to have him back!

She studied her reflection in the mirror, fingering the opal necklace that was Theo’s last gift. He said he’d bought them because they matched her eyes which continued to fascinate him with their odd blue, green and grey flecks.

Staring at the opals now, she remembered how he’d arrived home late one night from a trip, led her upstairs with a gleam in his eyes and begun to undress her. He watched her in the full length mirror until the last item of clothes fell to the floor, retrieved a box from his coat pocket and pulled out the shimmering beads. Before she could spin to thank him, he steered her to the bed, stripped quickly to join her and proceeded to drag the lustrous stones over her body with his mouth.

The erotic night proved memorable for both as Theo’s rapidly failing health denied them further pleasures.

Calleigh ran her hands over the French twist confining the long heavy hair her husband had refused to let her change. Another reminder of the sensuous man she’d married. One day soon, she vowed, she take that final step and cut it.

Shaking off the memories imbedded forever in her mind, she tucked in a few errant strands of hair and dabbed at the lipstick smear in the corner of her mouth, satisfied that nothing more could improve her appearance. She tugged at the pink strapless dress, another of Theo’s chosen items, and slipped into Jimmy Choo heels. With squared shoulders, she took a deep breath and went downstairs.

Calleigh paused in the foyer to admire the towering flower arrangements placed on the twin consoles that flanked the leaded glass front doors. She stood looking up at the massive crystal chandelier with its fifty-inch span and recalled Theo’s excitement at locating such a rare find. He loved bright, shiny things and the artistry of rope-twisted crystals swinging from three separate groups of silvery arms was magnificent. The top, as well as the large elongated bottom, had a lacy look. The bobeches sporting a crosscut design and candle cups were scalloped and rimmed with almond-shaped pendants and trimmed in brilliant Swarovski crystals that flashed and reflected light onto the polished walnut floor.

The housekeeper appeared and touched Calleigh on the shoulder.

Calleigh turned and smiled. The house has never looked more beautiful, Margaret. I’m so glad you thought to use all the lovely flowers from our gardens. How proud Theo would have been to see them here. Thank you, she murmured, pulling the woman into an impulsive hug. Without you, the girls and I would never have survived these last two years.

Margaret Williams returned Calleigh’s hug. Don’t thank me. You know Mr. T. would come back and haunt me if I had abandoned his little family, she joked, tears appearing in her eyes.

The two women took comfort from each other until the bustle of activities around them drew their attention and they parted, each going in different directions—Margaret to the kitchen, Calleigh to the foyer.

She took her position as hostess at the front entrance and welcomed guests who soon filled the rooms with chatter and laughter. Listening to the collective voices as the night wore on, she circulated and mingled with a charm few knew or even suspected she forced.

Chateau Cuvee Brut sparkling wine flowed and conversations grew louder as the evening progressed. A dull ache crept up Calleigh’s back and settled at the nape of her neck. Alone momentarily, she snatched a flute of the champagne from a passing waiter and slipped outside to catch her breath.

Sipping her wine, she rotated her head in an effort to relieve the tension and caught a fleeting glimpse of a man in a white dinner jacket standing alone in the shadows on the upper terrace. He was looking down at the pool, and she tried to identify him. Before she could get a better look, he turned and walked away, returning to the house by way of the back staircase and a French door.

Though the man looked vaguely familiar, she couldn’t recall his name and decided he had to be another of Theo’s business acquaintances whom she seldom saw. Perhaps one he didn’t want her to know? She shrugged. There had been those, but what did it matter now?

The evening drew to a close. Calleigh sighed in relief as she stood on the front gallery waiting for the valet staff to bring the last remaining guests their automobiles. Catching another glimpse of the white-coated stranger getting into a black automobile, she realized he had made no effort to speak to her as most had. Why?

Well past midnight, Calleigh finally climbed the stairs and went into her bedroom to undress, confident that the party had been an unqualified success. All that was left on her agenda were the welcoming ceremonies at nine o’clock the following morning, a challenging day of golf, and a dinner dance. Then, thankfully, the social obligations Theo orchestrated before his death would end.

She lay in bed trying to fall asleep and thought again of her husband’s continuing influence since his death and of her life before she’d met him. By studying and working many long hours since the age of fifteen, she’d achieved a measure of