by Marie Force
“People really connected with you and Gigi on the show,” Mallory said. “They appreciated how you kept it real even if you showed the glam side of celebrity. You weren’t afraid to talk about your problems. It was refreshing.”
Hearing that such an accomplished woman like Mallory enjoyed the show made Jordan feel good about what she and Gigi had created. “We had fun, but it was important to us that it not just be about hair and makeup and clothes, but real life, too.”
“You did a great job of that,” Mallory said. “We both enjoyed it.”
“I didn’t picture you for a reality TV fan, bro,” Jared said to Quinn.
“Not usually, but Mallory liked the show, so I watched it with her. It was really well done and fun to watch.”
“Maybe you could do a Gansett Island version of the show,” Paul said.
“That’d be awesome,” Hope said. “You could do flip-flops instead of stilettos and talk about the challenges of living on a remote island.”
“People would probably be bored senseless by that,” Jordan said.
“I don’t think so,” Jenny said. “You and Gigi could make it hysterical. I have no doubt it would be a huge hit.”
“I’m trying to picture Gigi on Gansett.”
The others laughed.
“She’d be a riot,” Jenny said. “She is so effortlessly funny. Is she always like that?”
“Yes! She’s had me laughing since grade school when we sat next to each other. She got me in so much trouble.”
“That’s the only dynamic you two need to be successful—each other,” Alex said. “She’s a kook, and you’re the one trying to keep her from committing a felony. I actually can’t believe she’s an attorney.”
“I never laughed harder in my life than I did when she told me she was going to law school. And then I realized she was serious. She said she had a feeling she was going to need to understand the law at some point. Turns out, she was right about that. But what’s really funny is that she’s actually a very good lawyer.”
“I can see that,” Jenny said. “She’s sharp as a tack as well as funny as hell.”
“She is. Maybe I need to invite her to Gansett to check the place out. See what she thinks of filming our last season here.” The idea of being able to stay, of somehow figuring out a life here, filled her with an unreasonable feeling of elation.
As the others asked about David and Daisy’s wedding plans for that fall, Jordan reached for Mason’s hand under the table.
He sent her a warm smile.
The idea of being stuck on Gansett Island was looking better to her with every day she spent with him. She’d never been so comfortable with anyone other than her sister and grandmother and a few close friends like Gigi. He made her happy. She’d laughed more with him than she’d laughed in years, and he made her feel safe and adored. Not to mention, their physical connection was positively incendiary.
She nearly laughed at thinking her connection to a firefighter was incendiary.
He would like that. She couldn’t wait to be alone with him later so she could tell him about it. And, as soon as she got the chance, she would pitch the idea of moving the show to Gansett to Gigi, who would probably shoot it down.
But it was worth a try. Stranger things had happened.
She tuned back in to the conversation to hear that the activities director at the senior facility Quinn and Mallory ran had decided island life wasn’t for her.
“It’s such a bummer,” Mallory said, “because the residents loved her.”
“She was excellent,” Alex said.
“Alex and Paul’s mother, Marion, is a resident at the facility,” Jenny said for Jordan’s benefit.
“Ah, I see. What does the activities director do?”
“Organize exercise, crafts, games, music and other forms of entertainment for the residents,” Quinn said. “We have a wide variety of capabilities among our clientele. Some are more able to participate than others, but they all enjoy being in the room.”
“I can attest to that,” Paul said. “Our mom has severe dementia, but she still enjoys making crafts. Sometimes she doesn’t recognize us, but she can still create beautiful things.”
“It’s amazing how the mind works,” Alex added. “We’re just so happy to be able to see her every day and that she has the opportunity to do things that used to mean so much to her. You guys are life-savers.”
“I give my lovely wife all the credit,” Jared said, smiling at Lizzie. “It was her idea.”
“And your money,” Lizzie said.
“Our money.”
“Your money.”
“We appreciate the idea, the money and the incredibly dedicated staff that run the place,” Alex said. “It’s been such a blessing to our family.”
“Your mom gave me the idea,” Lizzie said. “I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to have to take a loved one to the mainland to get the care they needed while you were living here.”
“It was awful,” Alex said. “The day we moved her back here was one of the best days of our lives, and you guys made that possible for us and other families.”
As the others discussed Marion’s situation, Jordan was stuck on the information about the activities director. When Quinn had described the role, she’d felt a spark of interest that couldn’t be denied.
When they were driving back to Mason’s, she said as much to him.
“I’m sure they’d talk to you about it.”
“Other than a lifelong interest in all things crayon-marker-glue gun-glitter, I’m not sure I’d be qualified. I’m not very musical, and I avoid exercise like the plague.”
“You could bring other people in for those things. Julia Lawry is living here now. She’s an incredible singer and piano player. I heard her play at Stephanie’s Bistro, and she’s fantastic. You could get someone from the yoga studio to come in to do classes for the residents. I bet they’d even specialize their program for people who use wheelchairs or have other physical limitations.”
“That’s true.” Her mind raced with the possibilities.
“You should ask them about it.”
“I don’t know. I probably ought to figure out my situation at home before I do anything here.” Jordan wished she could wave a magic wand and make Brendan go away, get free of her contract for the show and deal with her house and belongings in LA. After a few weeks on Gansett, her life in LA felt almost foreign to her, as if it had belonged to someone else rather than her.
“Are you leaning toward wanting to be here instead of there?”
“I might be.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard in maybe ever.”
He had such a way of making her feel wanted. After spending most of her life surrounded by men who didn’t want her, he was a refreshing and delightful change of pace.
Chapter 21
When they arrived home, Mason and Jordan got ready for bed like they’d been living together for years rather than hanging out for a few days. She was so comfortable with him and his tiny, cozy house. He joined her in bed, curling up to her and putting his arm around her.
She ran her hand gently over the curve of his elbow. “It seems better.”
“Much. It’s bending without agony.”
“That’s good. Are you sure you still want me underfoot now that you’re going back to work?”
“I’m very sure I still want you underfoot, under me, etc.”
Jordan laughed at the shameless way he came on to her. “Tonight was fun. I loved your friends.”
“They loved you, too.”
“I felt like I talked too much about the show and stuff.”
“Not at all. They were interested. I love the idea of you doing it from here. How funny would that be?”
“I’m not sure Gansett Island is ready for Gigi.”
“It would be awesome. Would you consider proposing it to the network?”
“First, I’d have to propose it to her.”
“Would you even do that much?”
“I’d definitely mention it. And I guess it’ll depend on what she hears from the network. She’s supposed to talk to them on Monday.”
“I’d like to cast the first vote for Jordan and Gigi Live From Gansett Island. I think it would be a huge hit.”
“And you’re not at all biased.”
“Not one bit biased.” Under the T-shirt she’d worn to bed, he cupped her bare breast and tweaked her nipple. “I think it would be spectacular.”
“Would you be a guest star?”
His hand froze, and he seemed to stop breathing.
She lost it laughing. “Oh, come on! They’d love you. All tall and handsome and wearing a uniform.” She shivered dramatically. “The ladies would go mad over you.”
“Um, well, I probably ought to not, um…”
Jordan couldn’t stop laughing. “If I do the show here, you’d have to be on it.”
“Hmmm, not sure my contract with the town would allow for that.”
“Yes, it would.”
“How do you know?”
“I have a feeling if I was able to work it out to film from here, you might be happy about that, right?”
“Uh, yeah, safe to say I’d be happy about that.”
“Which means you’d do whatever it took to ensure my island show was successful so I would stay here.”
“Why do I feel like I’m being shamelessly manipulated?”
“Because you are. I’ll only pitch the idea of filming here if you agree to costar. I need to be able to prove to the network that we’d have a viable show here, and featuring the locals would have to be part of it. I pick you as our first costar.”
“Um, well, my agent would need to receive a formal offer, and then we’d take it under advisement.”
Exasperated, Jordan played her best card. “How about I give you two blow jobs for every day you spend filming?”
“Sold. You’ve got yourself a deal, my friend. I’d be happy to costar on your show.”
Once again, he had her crippled with laughter. That happened a lot with him, and she was finding she rather loved to laugh with and at him. She was finding she rather loved him—a lot. Not that she could say that to him when her situation was so uncertain.
Hopefully, Gigi would soon have progress to report with the divorce and the network. Once those issues were taken care of, Jordan would be allowed to fall the rest of the way in love with Mason. Until then, she had to take care not to let this get so far out of hand that they’d both end up crushed if it didn’t work out.
Easier said than done.
Mason went back to work on Sunday and put in a sixteen-hour shift, dealing with several cases of alcohol poisoning, a moped crash that led to a compound leg fracture, a heart attack on the town beach and a brush fire at the bluffs, near the trail where he liked to ride his bike.
Jordan was asleep when he got home and still sleeping when he left on Monday morning. He left her a note telling her to call him when she got up. After spending most of the last four days with her, he missed her after one day without her.
He attended his usual AA meeting and accepted Mallory and Quinn’s invitation to go to breakfast at Rebecca’s. After they ordered their usual, Mallory leaned in, coffee mug in hand.
“So, things with Jordan seem really good.”
“Subtle, babe,” Quinn said. “She promised she wouldn’t pump you for info the second she had you in her clutches.”
“I’m not pumping him,” Mallory said. “I’m merely making an observation.”
“If that’s what you want to call it,” Quinn said.
Mason laughed at their banter. “It’s fine. And yes, things are good. For now, anyway.”
Mallory pounced, as he fully expected her to. “What does that mean?”
“She’s got a lot to deal with before she can figure out her next move.”
“She really, really likes you, Mason,” Mallory said.
“I know she does. And I really, really like her. But she’s still married, has a contract to do her show in LA and a house and life there to contend with.”
Mallory waved away his concerns with a sweep of her hand. “Those are just details. She’s not going anywhere.”
“Mallory,” Quinn said. “You don’t know that, and neither does he.”
“What Quinn said. I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself. There’re so many things that have to be dealt with, and not for nothing…”
“What?”
“I don’t know if I see her being happy here for the long haul.”
“Oh, please. She’s totally into you. Everyone could see that the other night.”
Hearing that gave Mason the kind of hope he hadn’t allowed himself before now. “But would that be enough for her after the shine wears off? You’ve seen what her life in LA was like. It was all glam all the time. We’ve got none of that here.”
“Has it occurred to you that she might be sick of life in the fast lane, and a slower, quieter life might actually appeal to her?”
“Not really. She’s enjoying it right now because of the novelty of it.”
“Are you actually calling yourself a novelty?”
“I’m trying to keep it real, Mallory. What would a woman like her want with a small-town fire chief long term?”
She stared at him, incredulous. “Mason! I don’t even know where to start with that. First of all, after what she went through with the jackass she married, you must look awfully good to her. You’re a good guy, dependable, loyal, steady—”
“Boring.”
“No! Absolutely not!”
“My life is boring. It’s all about work, work, more work, exercise, AA, a few good friends. There’s no way I can compete with what she’s used to.”
Mallory looked to Quinn. “Will you please help me out here?”
“What my beloved is trying to tell you, Mason, is if she loves you, she won’t need anything more than you.”
“Thank you,” Mallory said.
“I’d like to believe that’s true, but like I said, I’m trying to be realistic.”
“Are you in love with her?” Mallory asked.
“I like her. A lot.”
“But are you in love?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I could be, if things were different. I’m not looking to be flattened when she resumes her real life.” Even though he already knew he would be, no matter what took her away from him.
“You heard her say the other night that the idea of filming here appeals to her. And I couldn’t help but notice that she seemed a bit interested in the activities director job at the senior center.”
“She did say it sounded like fun.”
“The job is hers if she wants it.”
“Honestly,” Mason said, exasperated and amused at the same time. “You’re too much.”
“I tell her that every day,” Quinn said, smiling at his fiancée.
“What is wrong with offering her a job?”
“I wouldn’t want to speak for Mason,” Quinn said, “but if I had to guess, he’s thinking you’re trying to play fairy godmother by offering her a job so she’ll stay with him.” He glanced at Mason. “How’d I do?”
“Spot-on. You can speak for me any time.”
“I know what I saw the other night,” Mallory said. “She’s crazy about you, and I’ll be shocked if she leaves.”
“She may not have a choice. She has a contract for one more season of the show, not to mention a husband to contend with.”
“She’s not going back to him. Tell me you know that.”
“I do know that, but she’s a long way from free and clear of him.”
“Why do I feel like you’re setting yourself up to fail with her so you won’t be surprised if you do?”
“Mallory.” The note of warning in Quinn’s tone was loud and clear to Mason, but Mallory pressed on as if he hadn’t said anything.
“Hear me out. You don’t be
lieve a woman like her, whatever that means, could fall for you and stay with you long term, so you’re preparing yourself for it to end when it’s still going strong. That’s how I see it, anyway.”
“I’ve had a little history with working above my pay grade in past relationships. It never works out well for me.”
“Maybe it hasn’t in the past, but that doesn't mean it never will.”
“You’ve said your piece, babe. Leave the poor guy alone.”
Mason sent Quinn a grateful smile. “I do appreciate the concern.”
“I want to say one more thing.”
Quinn rolled his eyes. “One more thing, and then I am going to muzzle you if Mason doesn’t beat me to it.”
“This is important, Mason.”
He’d never seen Mallory look more serious.
“I think you love her. I think she loves you, too. If that’s the case, nothing is more important than doing whatever it takes to make it work, even if that means you are the one to relocate.”
Her words were like a fist to the face, a wakeup call of the highest order. Here, he’d been consumed with trying to figure out how to keep her on Gansett, when maybe he should’ve been thinking about how he might go with her if she had to leave. He was ashamed to admit that he’d never given that scenario any serious thought until Mallory forced him to.
“Your point is well taken.”
“I know you love your life here, but your life here is going to be a whole lot less ideal post-Jordan.”
That, too, was true. He’d been fine before he met her, but now… The thought of not seeing her for one day pained him. How would he get through a lifetime of days without her?
“No job is worth it, Mason,” Mallory said softly. “Take it from someone who lost her first love suddenly and tragically and thought she’d never again find what she had with him. It took twenty years for Dr. James here to show up and prove me wrong.”
Quinn put his arm around her and kissed her temple. “I was looking for you the whole time.”
Moved by them, Mason smiled. “You guys give me hope.”
“If you love her, don’t let her get away. That’s all I wanted to say.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, and tell her we’d be happy to have her at the center if she wants to be our activities director. No interview required.”
