The Man in Yellow Jaguar

By Julie L. Spencer

Love at first sight may exist in fairy tales, but not usually from across a parking lot.

When Allison feels drawn to a mysterious man in shades and a baseball cap driving a yellow Jaguar, she can’t get him off her mind.

But Charles Davison is the only guy around who drives a yellow Jaguar, and he’s the owner of the resort where Allison works. Charles is twice Allison’s age and doesn’t share her values. Yet, somehow they connect and fall in love.

The night Allison accepts his proposal, she meets Charles’ son. What starts as a celebration, ends in a heated argument between father and son, and the woman who threatens to take the place of C.J.’s deceased mother.

As the wedding date looms closer, Allison’s doubts increase and the relationships between the men become more and more complicated. Will they make it to the altar? Or will tensions come to a head when they need each other most?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Julie L. Spencer
• Release date: Mar 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781975871048

Book preview

978-1975871048

DEDICATION

The Man in the Yellow Jaguar is dedicated to all those who have found love in places where they least expected.

DEDICATION

Chapter One: A Room with a View

Chapter Two: Frankfort

Chapter Three: The Good Life

Chapter Four: It Was You

Chapter Five: Fire and Ice

Chapter Six: Sustained and Confused

Chapter Seven: Home Is Where the Heart Is

Chapter Eight: He Loves You, He Loves You Not

Chapter Nine: I Don’t

Chapter Ten: I Love Him Even More Than I Love You

Bonus: Chapter One of The Cove

Chapter One: A Room with a View

He came and went so fast, I wasn’t sure the connection was real. Allison stared out her office window at the rolling hills of the resort. Only a few golfers were visible from where she stood, but she knew the bulk of the conference attendees wouldn’t be arriving until later in the evening. Only the executives came early for the opening golf outing. Kelly, her administrative assistant, waited patiently for Allison to finish her thought so they could eventually get back to work. They still had a little while before the influx of people and the busyness that followed. Allison turned abruptly and shrugged her shoulders. I don't know what to do?

This was the time when she was supposed to have everything ready and waiting for their guests. The meals were planned, the posters were printed, the easels were outside each conference room, the attendees had their suite assignments, and the staff was ready to fly into action.

This was the time when Allison usually paced the halls, rechecking details, straightening chairs that had been ready for hours, and rechecking everything that everyone else had prepared. She knew her compulsive behavior annoyed her staff, but they knew her attention to detail was the reason the resort got such high reviews from conference attendees.

Today she wasn’t her usual self. She couldn’t get him out of her mind. Kelly had noticed her strange behavior and called her out. You’re not acting like yourself. Why are you so distant? Did you realize the tablecloths are the wrong color? Snap out of it. Snap out of it. Snap out of it.

I can’t snap out of it. I have to know who he is.

What’s his name? Kelly noticed everything and knew Allison too well. She had been here many years prior to Allison. She knew this resort inside and out, knew everyone who worked here, the difficulty of every ski slope, the par for all eighteen holes of golf, the price point for every item on the menus, and she was an excellent assistant. Allison knew she would not be able to do her job as well without Kelly as her right-hand woman.

That’s the thing. I don’t know who he is. Not knowing has been driving me crazy for hours. Allison chewed on the edge of her perfectly manicured fingernails and looked at her wise assistant.

Where did you meet him?

"I haven’t met him. I only saw him from across the parking lot. I was sitting at the picnic table on the top of the knoll by the ninth green and he raced up to the hotel entrance, slammed on the brakes, and before he ran into the building, he glanced up as he was getting out of the car and… we connected somehow. Allison turned back to the window and watched a man hit a chip shot that rolled off the fairway and into the sand trap. I probably just imagined it."

Hey, you never know, Kelly said. A connection is a connection. What did he look like?

He was too far away for me to get a good look at him. Plus he was wearing shades and a baseball cap. He seemed much too casual to be driving a Jaguar. It was such a juxtaposition of opposites.

There’s only one guy around here who drives a Jaguar, and that’s Charles Davison.

The owner of the resort? Allison turned quickly back to look at Kelly. That couldn’t possibly have been him.

Was it a yellow Jaguar? A real sporty little beauty?

Yeah, it was yellow. I’ve never seen a more incredible car. But, Charles Davison? Isn’t he a little… older?

He’s my age, I think. Kelly shrugged.

Well, you’re not old.

I’m fifty.

"You are not?" Allison felt disbelief that her assistant was twice her age, and that the man she had connected with was as old as her father. Creepy. Well, that settles it. I must have imagined having feelings for him.

You never know, Kelly said. Maybe you should go meet him and see what he’s like. You and I get along just fine. Maybe you and he will as well.

Allison laughed at the suggestion and brushed it off. She patted Kelly on the arm as she turned and strode out the door. I don’t have time. We have guests arriving soon.

*    *    *

The remainder of the day was a rush of one challenge after another. Not bad challenges per se; just mild concerns that arose. The conference organizers began welcoming their guests, and the hallways and ballrooms filled with commotion. Everyone needed something from her right now, and Allison calmly glided through the background making sure everyone had everything they needed to transition smoothly from registration to the banquet dinner to the keynote speaker to the open bar and eventually to escorting guests back to their suites when they couldn’t remember their room number.

By the end of the evening, Allison was ready to pull off her low heels and replace them with comfortable slippers. She knew that morning would bring new challenges and the day would start early.

She trusted her staff to handle the buffet-style breakfast, but usually arose early to oversee the general atmosphere anyway. Her presence, even if she mostly stayed in her office, seemed comforting to the kitchen managers and conference organizers. Even during the downtimes, there was always the next convention to organize, the next group just hours from their arrival time.

She finally made it back to her condo, collapsed onto her sectional and reached for the remote control. Nothing on but the Late Show. Ugh. She got caught up in laughing at the opening monologue, and then drifted off during the first commercial break. She awoke when her arm slipped and the remote control fell to the floor with a soft thud. It’s after Midnight… I have the least glamorous life of anyone I know. She yawned and switched off the television, stumbled into the bathroom, brushed her teeth and fell into bed.

*    *    *

I just saw Charles Davison’s yellow Jaguar pull into his parking spot near the employee entrance. Kelly poked her nose in the door