Holiday at Magnolia Bay

by Tracy Solheim

  When she arrived for work earlier that morning Perry had been camped out in Jenna’s office. She hadn’t been surprised to see him, since the hatchery was obviously just as important to him that he’d lie and use people to get the funding for it. What she didn’t want was to listen to his groveling.

  “Look, Jenna…” he’d begun before she’d cut him off.

  “Don’t.” She’d held up her hand to deter whatever lame excuse he was about to offer. After the roller-coaster that she’d been on for the previous twenty-four hours, it took every ounce of self-confidence Jenna had to maintain her composure. “I made a serious lapse in judgment where you are concerned. It’s never wise to get involved with a colleague. My bad. But I want this hatchery as much as you do, so let’s just agree to maintain a respectful and professional distance and get this project rolling. Give me whatever it was you wanted to present to Miss Evie yesterday and I’ll take it over to her this morning.”

  “It isn’t what you think.” Apparently, Perry was intent on groveling.

  Jenna arched an eyebrow at him. “So, you’re not engaged?”

  Perry rubbed the back of his neck. “No, technically, I am engaged—”

  “Then ‘technically’ you were just messing with me to get an introduction to Evie Song?”

  “I could have gotten ten different introductions to Ms. Song,” he said, his voice rising in the small office. “That is not why I pursued you.”

  “So it was just because you’re a jerk?” Jenna had to grip the corner of the desk to keep from hitting something, quite possibly Perry.

  His hand moved from his neck to his hair as he scrubbed his fingers through it. “Yes, but not quite as big of a jerk as you might think.”

  Jenna didn’t bother responding; instead she wrapped her arms around her middle and waited.

  “My relationship with Imogene has always been a bit…rocky. We’re extremely compatible where science is involved, but not so much in real life. We’ve been test driving our engagement for nearly two years.”

  “Ahh, so you’ve also been ‘test driving’ multiple candidates?”

  “No! Up until I came here and met you, I was faithful to Imogene. But then I met you…” His voice trailed off and she watched as the look she once found attractive radiated from his eyes. Too bad for him, it had lost its potency.

  “And I was a convenient means to an end?”

  “You were—are—a respected scientist with the same passion for this project as I have who also happens to be a woman I am attracted to.”

  “The same could be said for Imogene.”

  He had the decency to squirm at that one.

  Jenna sighed. She had no right to be so upset—well, except about Perry kissing her while he was engaged to someone else. Jenna had already come to the realization that she hadn’t been all that serious about Perry. She’d proven that point when she kissed the first man who’d come along last night—a veritable stranger, for goodness sake. Her face became warm with the shame of it—or maybe that was just from thinking about the taste and feel of Drew’s lips on hers.

  “Honestly, Perry, it wasn’t working for me, anyway,” she said a bit harshly, surprising even herself at the truth in her words. “I think we’re better off maintaining a working relationship and leaving it at that.”

  “It’s the soldier, isn’t it? Miss Evie’s convenient godson,” Perry demanded and Jenna had to take a step back both mentally and physically. “There’s something going on between you two. Imogene picked up on it yesterday.”

  There was nothing going on between Jenna and Drew—except for maybe a very hot lip lock on the beach last night. If Drew hadn’t ended it when he did, Jenna certainly would have. Eventually. Jenna may be a sucker for a pretty face lately, but that was all. She’d only allowed him to kiss her as comfort for whatever had shaken his macho being at the sight of the dead turtle.

  Instead, she honed in on Perry’s use of the word ‘convenient’. Not surprising, he saw Drew as a threat. She’d been guilty of the same thoughts yesterday, however, so it was hard to fault Perry. But, after last night, she was fairly certain Miss Evie’s godson wasn’t in Magnolia Bay to scuttle the turtle hatchery. There were darker secrets within his eyes. A part of her ached for him, which meant Drew was a threat—just not in the way Perry thought.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but I only met the Lieutenant Commander yesterday. It’s merely a coincidence that he’s in Magnolia Bay. You’re reading much more into this, Perry.” She clicked on her computer, hoping he’d get the message that their conversation was over. “I processed a Loggerhead strand last night and I need to get Carter moving on the lab work so I can send the report off to Fish and Wildlife. I can take whatever you have up to Miss Evie this morning while I wait for the reports.”

  Perry looked as though he wanted to say more, but the fiancée he was ‘test driving’ arrived at Jenna’s office door, study in hand, almost as though she was waiting on her cue.

  “I assume you will be able to explain the more technical aspects to her?” she asked Jenna.

  “Jenna has her master’s degree and is well versed in the project, Imogene.”

  Imogene arched a perfect eyebrow at Perry’s quick defense. “Perhaps that’s best. Without a doctorate, she doesn’t run the risk of getting too technical with the old woman.”

  Jenna plucked the report from Imogene’s fingers. “I’m sure I’ll be able to muddle through with my second-rate education. You two enjoy your day. Preferably not in my office.”

  Heaving a sigh, Perry gestured for Imogene to precede him out the door. “I’ll light a fire under Carter to get that lab work started. Let us know how everything goes as soon as you get back.” As if the two of them wouldn’t be perched beside her parking space awaiting her return.

  Miss Evie peered over her readers to make some notes in the margin before gliding her hand down her cat’s back. Zarah’s contented purr echoed throughout the room. Jenna decided to bite the bullet.

  “You’re not serious about the low country boil are you?” she asked, warily.

  The older woman looked up from the document she was scrutinizing. “Why, Sugar, I’m serious as a heart attack.”

  Which was exactly what Jenna was afraid of. “I don’t understand. This project will cost more than the donations we can collect at a simple barbeque.”

  Miss Evie discarded her glasses as Zarah gave a haughty swish of her tail. “It’s a Lowcountry boil. Definitely not a barbeque.”

  Jenna wasn’t raised in the South—she’d basically grown up all over the world—and she still couldn’t quite understand the etiquette for ordering iced tea versus sweet tea, much less fish fries, boils and barbeques. Miss Evie always forgave Jenna’s ignorance, but today her words were laced with disdain.

  “Still, it seems like a lot of work for you. We’d planned on promoting the project during the Christmas Flotilla and Fishing Tournament once all the plans had been finalized.”

  “You mean once Crocodile Dundee and his fiancée get my money?” Miss Evie gave an indelicate snort. “What nerve those two have. This has been your pet project for nearly two years. Your dream. Your creation. I told you, Sugar, you were crazy to press the board to bring him here. Didn’t I say he’d steal your thunder? Well not with my checkbook. As far as I’m concerned this project is yours to do with as you wish.”

  Relief and a little bit of pride settled in Jenna’s chest. “If you were going to fund the project, why did you suggest the low country boil?”

  Miss Evie laughed. “Oh, lordy, did you see that woman’s face when I did?” She laughed harder and Zarah let out an annoyed sigh before leaping off Miss Evie’s lap. “She was just a little too big for her britches, that one. She talked down to me the moment she walked in the door as though she could care less about Magnolia Bay or the people who live here. The hatchery will benefit this whole community, but all she saw when she looked at me was dollar signs. She can jump through a few hoops an
d ingratiate herself to folks in these parts before she takes my money and heads back to the land of Oz.”

  “I certainly hope no one is taking your money, Aunt Evie.”

  The husky timbre of Drew’s voice coming from directly behind her caused Jenna to nearly jump from her chair. Part of her had hoped to avoid seeing him. Definitely not the part that was quivering right now, though. When she’d last laid eyes on Drew Lanham, he’d been naked, his muscles well-defined within the bright moonlight—not to mention his arousal. Jenna’s mouth went dry just thinking about it and she squeezed her eyes shut fearing Miss Evie could somehow see the erotic mental picture of her godson that was happily flickering about in her brain.

  She hadn’t meant to invade Drew’s privacy last night. But instinct wouldn’t let her leave him alone on the beach. Not after what she’d seen in his eyes. When she’d doubled back after parking the Jeep around the bluff, he’d been standing with his ankles in the surf, looking very much like the wounded warrior Jenna believed him to be. But then he’d charged into the ocean, swimming steady laps parallel to the shoreline for thirty-eight minutes. She knew this because she’d kept watch on the time, twice nearly making her presence known when she felt he should be exhausted—or had punished himself enough. When he’d finally emerged, he looked more relaxed than any man who’d just burned nearly a trillion calories should. She’d watched from her hiding place behind the dunes as he nonchalantly picked up his clothes and strolled up the bluff toward Miss Evie’s guest house.

  “Drew!” Miss Evie said. “I’m so glad you joined us. You’re looking handsome this morning. Jenna, doesn’t he look handsome?”

  Jenna didn’t want to look for fear she might drool or moan or something worse, but her body was ignoring her brain. He was leaning against one of the round wooden columns that framed the entry way to the wide porch overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Dressed in black cargo shorts, with a grey T-shirt advertising a bar in Annapolis, Maryland stretched across his chest, and flip flops, Drew looked better than handsome. He looked edible. All Jenna could manage was a little hum of agreement which sounded embarrassingly as though she’d just swallowed a satisfying piece of Dove chocolate.

  Those all-knowing eyes twinkled at her almost like he had a direct line to her thoughts. His hair was still damp and she caught a waft of freshly showered man with an extra helping of testosterone. Jenna shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

  “Now, Aunt Evie, there’s no need to fish for compliments for me. You’re making Jenna uncomfortable.” The obnoxious man had the nerve to wink at her. “If you’re trying to evade my question it won’t work. What’s this about someone taking your money?”

  “No one’s ‘taking’ my money. I’m donating it. To Jenna. So she can establish a turtle hatchery here in Magnolia Bay.” Miss Evie patted the chair beside hers. “Come sit and she can tell you all about it.” Drew remained where he was while Zarah wound her way between his ankles.

  Jenna sprung from her chair. The last thing she wanted was a long coze with Drew this morning. She’d accomplished what she’d come here for and she had lab work to follow up on at the Turtle Center. “I really have to get back to work. I just wanted to drop those documents off.”

  Miss Evie slid the prospectus toward Drew. “I’m sure Drew would love to hear all about your hatchery, Sugar.”

  “It’s not my hatchery, Miss Evie,” Jenna corrected her as though she hadn’t done so many times before. “It belongs to Magnolia Bay. I’ll just be one of the fortunate scientists who gets to bring it to fruition.”

  “As long as those two from Downunder don’t have any say-so.”

  Jenna swallowed a sigh of frustration. “I’ve told you before, Miss Evie, we need Perry’s expertise to make this work.”

  “Pfft,” Miss Evie said. “You’re smarter than both of them. You just remind them that no money goes to this project until after they make themselves known at the low country boil. It’s going to be a great way to end the summer and announce the plans for the hatchery.”

  “Aunt Evie, I think we need to discuss this hatchery project a bit further before you commit to anything.”

  Some of the wind left Jenna’s sails with Drew’s words. Maybe Perry was right to be concerned. She still had no idea how Drew fit into Miss Evie’s life or whether or not he could derail their plans for the hatchery. Her heart and her brain told her to keep her distance from Drew, but with the project caught in the balance, that was going to be hard to do.

  “That’s what I’m trying to do here, young man. You both need to sit back down and discuss this project.” Miss Evie tapped the prospectus with a well-manicured finger.

  *

  His godmother was meddling again. Drew was fairly confident she couldn’t just stroke a check for millions so Jenna could reproduce sea turtles without approval from her trustee, so he sensed Aunt Evie had an ulterior motive: mainly throwing him and Jenna together. Not that his body was complaining. He just didn’t want to hear his beloved godmother complaining when Drew got his mind back on track and left for another tour of duty—without Jenna.

  “Leave the paper, Jenna,” he said as he pulled away from the column. It was better to just appease them both. “I needed some beach reading anyway.”

  “But Jenna can explain it so much better,” his godmother insisted. “And what if you have questions?”

  “I know where to find her.” Drew couldn’t decide if the flush creeping up Jenna’s cheeks was a good sign or not. He wouldn’t mind another late night trip to the beach house at the end of Bayshore, though, even if it was only to discuss the sex lives of turtles.

  “I have a better idea,” Aunt Evie said as a touch of dread settled in his gut. “Jenna can come back for dinner and we can all discuss the project together.” Subtlety was not in his godmother’s repertoire. Not only that, but she had Jenna exactly where she wanted her; if she wanted her hatchery, she had to dance to his godmother’s tune. “Sugar, you know I like to eat early, so come around six. Come here now, Zarah and let’s go see what kind of treats we have left from breakfast.” Leaving Jenna no chance to object, she scooped up her cat and dashed toward the kitchen faster than a woman her age ought to move.

  Drew couldn’t help but grin at his godmother’s tenacity. Aunt Evie had actually done him a favor. He needed to know more about this scheme Jenna and her Aussie friends were pitching before things got out of hand. Spending time with Jenna—even chaperoned by his dotty godmother—was an added bonus. Unfortunately, Jenna wasn’t seeing the humor in any of this. She looked as though she’d rather eat turtle than have dinner with Drew. “Don’t look so worried, I’ll try to keep my questions simple for you,” he joked.

  “Asking simple questions shouldn’t be too hard for a guy like you.”

  “Score one for the turtle goddess.” Drew gestured toward the doorway his godmother had disappeared into. “She eats alone every night. The least we could do is humor her.”

  “On the contrary, I eat here at least once a week. I’m quite partial to the shrimp and grits her cook makes.”

  “I’ll be sure and request some for dinner then. As long as you hold up your end of the bargain and answer my questions about Aunt Evie’s involvement in this hatchery because I will have questions. Detailed questions.”

  “I told you last night, I’ve got nothing to hide.” She headed for the porch, her chin held high.

  “About last night…” he said as he followed her down the porch steps toward the driveway.

  “Forget about it.”

  “I can’t.” Not only that but he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

  “You were overcome at the loss of a beautiful sea creation. It happens. I would have thought a big bad Navy SEAL could have held it together better.” She shrugged. “But, hey, maybe you guys aren’t robots after all.”

  His lips curled up at her response. He admired her ability to regroup and move on when other women might have been crying foul. Maybe she wasn’t as tender-hearted as he be
lieved her to be. He knew from watching her work last night that she was tougher than she looked. Perhaps he needed to rethink his hands-off-Jenna policy.

  “And you? What were you overcome with last night?” he dared to ask, immediately regretting it. A part of him was fearful that her answer would be the pity he suspected of her. She stopped abruptly and Drew watched her face as her mind warred with how to respond. “Lust,” she said finally, surprising the hell out of him. “It had been a pretty crazy day,” she added as an excuse.

  Drew rocked back on his heels, an unabashed smile breaking out on his face. “Well, I’m glad I was able to facilitate your stress relief.”

  “Don’t make it sound like it was something more for you,” she said before squeezing her key fob to unlock her car door. “It was just a kiss of compassion. It didn’t mean anything.”

  “And yet you came back for seconds.”

  That stopped her in the process of opening her car door. She at least had the decency to blush from her chest to her forehead.

  “Tell me,” Drew couldn’t resist goading her. “Did you like what you saw?”

  “I…you—” she stammered. “How did you know?” she asked breathlessly.

  “It’s my job to know. In my line of work, not knowing is what gets people killed.”

  She shoved a stray strand of hair off her face. “I—”

  Drew pressed a finger to her lips. They trembled beneath his touch and it was like a shot to the groin. “You don’t have to say anything. Although, you do owe me my own private peep show as payback.” He leaned in and brushed his lips over the shell of her ear. “And I promise the performance will have a much more satisfying ending.”

  “Is that my patriotic duty, too?” she whispered.

  “No, sweetheart. The next time you touch me it will be because you can’t help yourself.”