Chapter 9
Key West, Florida
Nearly two weeks had passed as the crew worked to stabilize the structure’s foundation, but they finally worked their way inside the old house.
“My god! It looks like a bomb went off in here,” Charli exclaimed, her heart squeezing as she took in the front entry way.
Jack glanced at her over his shoulder. “It’s been vacant for several years so it’ll be bad,” he warned. “Don’t go too far and don’t even think about going upstairs yet. We have to check all the flooring first.”
Charli nodded absently as she surveyed the disaster before them.
She vaguely remembered the foyer as it had been when her aunt was in residence with its immaculate tile floor and the classic front room full of beautiful antiques.
“What happened to the antique furniture she had in here? Please tell me it’s not in those jumbled piles of junk. ”
Jack grunted as he knelt to inspect a section of the flooring. “She had her favorite pieces stored in a climate-controlled warehouse over on Stock Island.”
He froze suddenly as if something had just occurred to him and peered up at her with a questioning gaze.
“I don’t remember those pieces being mentioned in the will.
We’ll have to check with Art to make sure that furniture was considered part of this place.
If not, we’ll have to figure out a way to acquire them back. ”
Charli pursed her lips in thought. “Good point. I’ll give Art a call later. I’m sure he’ll want an update on our progress anyway.”
Jack grinned up at her, his dimples popping out. Charli nearly groaned—the urge to trace them with her tongue was strong. His chiseled features nearly took her breath and she had to look away before he could read anything from her expression.
He had been a perfect gentleman since the Dry Tortugas and she didn’t want to upset him, but God how she wanted that man!
“I’ve been keeping him in the loop, don’t worry. But you’re right. He’ll want to see all this soon,” Jack answered as he stood back up.
Charli mumbled a response and moved to the large front window. She remembered sitting in this room with Aunt Dottie, relaxing to music or playing cards. She released a deep breath and smiled at the memories.
“That was an awfully big sigh,” Jack commented, giving her a quick side glance as he surveyed the ceiling. “You okay over there?”
“Mmmhmm.” Charli walked over to the outside wall and ran her hand over the clumps of antiquated plaster that was peeling off in large chunks.
“Just thinking back to when I stayed here. It seems so long ago.” She turned and lifted her hands to the piles of trash, rotten boxes, and broken furniture scattered around the room.
“I remember how comfortable this room used to be. I can’t believe it looks like this now. ”
Jack shrugged. “Well, you’ll need to brace yourself because it’s obvious that this house has been used by vagrants over the last few years.
The rest of the house will be just like this or even worse.
” He stood and looked over at the main staircase.
“I have a strong suspicion that the Widow’s Walk will be a complete disaster.
Gus and I noticed from the garden that it’s sustained some storm damage, and I know it hasn’t been repaired in years. ”
Charli hummed and walked to the base of the staircase, staring up to the next floor. This had been one of the resort’s best features with a solid mahogany banister that flowed elegantly down into the main room. To her relief, it looked relatively unscathed aside from a few nicks and gouges.
“Hey, Jack!” Gus shouted from the kitchen.
“Yeah?” Jack answered as he squatted to inspect what looked like water damage.
“Take a look at this flooring in here,” Gus replied, vexation in his voice. “It’s worse than we thought.”
“Shit,” Jack grumbled under his breath. He stood and made his way toward the back of the house.
Charli smirked. She had a feeling they’d be finding plenty of sections that were worse than they had anticipated.
She wandered over to the large teak desk that her Aunt Dottie had used to check in her guests.
Surprisingly, it hadn’t been stored with the other furniture.
..guess it hadn’t been one of her favorite pieces.
Or maybe it had just been too heavy to move.
Charli turned and stared back up the staircase, arching up to the second floor that was literally inviting her to climb it. She wondered how much furniture had been left up there and what kind of condition it would be in. In this humidity and heat, anything left behind couldn’t be good.
Thinking it wouldn’t hurt to do some quick investigating, Charli moved to the staircase and ran her hand lightly over the thick, curved wood, marveling at how well it had held up over the years. After a good cleaning and polishing, the banister would gleam like it had for decades.
She had made it up only two steps before an arm like an iron band locked around her midsection. Charli yelped in surprise as she was yanked back into a hard body. Lips brushed her ear and a shiver ran up her spine.
“You don’t listen very well, do you?” Jack murmured softly, as he pulled her in even tighter to his torso. Her body lit right up like a roman candle as sensation shot through her, making her core clench and her nipples harden against her shirt.
Panting lightly, she shook her head. “I was only going upstairs to see how much furniture was left behind.”
“It’s not safe. I told you that,” he responded, his voice husky as his arm flexed around her stomach. His hand splayed out and Charli squirmed against him as his thumb brushed the sensitive underside of her breast. Heat bloomed through her core and between her legs, taking her breath away.
How could this man have such an explosive effect on her?
“Gus has to inspect it before anyone goes up there. Got it?” he added, his voice firm this time. His thumb brushed back and forth mercilessly, making her tremble in response as she leaned her head back on his shoulder.
“No unnecessary chances, okay?” he asserted as he gently nuzzled her neck.
“Uh huh,” she mumbled, nearly incoherent from desire. Her body was on fire with need and desire—and Jack was the only one who could extinguish her.
He kissed her earlobe lightly, making goosebumps pop up along her flesh. “Good,” he whispered.
The awkward clearing of a throat was deafening in the room and had the effect of fingernails on a chalkboard. Charli jerked away from Jack, who seemed reluctant but slowly released her.
“Uh...sorry to interrupt, Jack. I thought I heard my name.” Gus looked toward the ground, refusing to meet their eyes.
Heat moved down her body and Jack chuckled.
“You didn’t interrupt anything, Gus. I was just saving Charli from herself.
” He gestured toward the staircase. “You’ll need to examine this before anyone goes up to the next floor.
Same will go for the other two staircases on the second and third floors, and the back stairs as well. ”
Gus hummed and pursed his lips as he gazed thoughtfully at the structure. “Okay, let’s see what we’re dealing with here,” he muttered absently as he ran his hands along the banister. “It looks great, considering...” He pulled a level and a measuring tape from his work belt.
Annoyed at being diverted from her exploration and for being so turned on by Jack’s manhandling, Charli huffed a breath and turned toward the kitchen.
It had been her aunt’s favorite room, and she wondered how it had fared. To her relief, it looked to be in remarkably good condition. Gus had flagged two large sections of flooring along the outside wall, but otherwise most of the space seemed unscathed.
She ran her hand over the countertops through layers of dust and grime. They felt sound to her, but it was likely that they’d have to be replaced.
The large antique icebox was still there as well as the vintage stove. She smiled at the memory of Dottie stubbornly refusing to replace those appliances.
Charli stood in front of the oversized porcelain sink and stared out the window.
Her aunt’s presence hung thick in the room, making her gut churn with loss and regret.
She could only imagine how leaving this place had broken her aunt’s heart, and Charli hadn’t known anything about it—had been too consumed by her career to even notice what was happening to someone she loved.
“Charli!” came a shout from the main room, making her jump.
Charli sniffed back a tear and made her way through the rooms. “Yeah?” she asked Jack.
He pointed to the second floor where Gus inspected the hall banister for stability. “We can go up now. Are you ready?” His brow dropped when he met Charli’s gaze. He turned toward her and grabbed her elbows, pulling her toward him. “What’s wrong?”
Charli gave him a heartbreaking smile and shook her head, placing a hand on his chest. “Nothing’s wrong. Just a little sad at the thought of Aunt Dottie having to leave this place. She loved it so much, and to see it this way had to be heartbreaking.”
Jack grunted. “It was tough on her, but I made sure the new house was a good place for her.” He rubbed her back, mindlessly soothing her nerves with his touch. “Are you ready to explore some more?”
She bobbed her head and they slowly made their way up to the second floor and turned left toward the bedrooms. “If I remember correctly, most of the guests stayed on this floor,” she murmured absently.
Jack hummed. “Be careful where you step. The floor should be sound but watch for soft spots.” He nudged his chin toward Gus who was squatting down inspecting the next set of stairs. “I’ll let you know when we can continue up to the next floor.”