Magnolia Summer

by Jaci Burton

  Like family.

  She felt a twinge of jealousy and regret, then quickly forced the feeling away. She had made her choices. She liked New York and the feeling of anonymity it gave her. People just didn’t allow themselves to bond with anyone there. Well maybe some did, but she didn’t. That had never bothered her before. Why did it now?

  “I know you’re all busy, and my boss here is a slave driver and will dock my pay if I don’t get to work, so I’d better get to it.”

  As he turned to leave he glanced in Jordan’s direction and their eyes met. His gaze settled over her for what she thought was way too long, causing her to heat in embarrassment. But instead of averting her gaze like she should have, she stayed locked in some sort of visual foreplay with him. Surely everyone else saw the same thing Jordan saw—Sam’s smoldering, hot look burning her to the spot. Then he winked and left the room.

  Her gaze lingered on the now empty doorway, both longing and irritation steaming inside her. How could he do this to her? Humiliate her like this in front of people whose respect she was trying to earn? Now everyone probably thought they were having a hot love affair.

  Turning her attention to the group, she was appalled to find them all staring at her, huge grins on their faces. She could imagine the thoughts going through their minds. The steamy, longing looks she and Sam had exchanged would lead anyone to believe the two of them were lovers. And in a town such as Magnolia, any fodder for the gossip mill was not a good thing. She could hear the phone lines already burning up with rumors.

  Dammit!

  Clearing her throat, Jordan tried to focus everyone on the play and away from her and Sam. “Okay, now where were we?”

  After a couple hours of rehearsal, they took a break and grabbed some drinks, giving Jordan a chance to mentally review the first part of the day. The read-through went quite well. Surprisingly, it was a very talented group. She hadn’t yet heard their singing voices, but had to admit they all had their parts down to a tee, and seemed to have a knack for bringing out the nuances of each character. She couldn’t wait to hear them sing, individually and as a group.

  It seemed like almost everyone had gathered in the kitchen. Tony had gone outside to speak to Sam. Millie and Katie were looking out the back window at the two men talking.

  “Isn’t Sam just wonderful?” Millie mentioned to no one in particular, but obviously loud enough for Jordan to hear. “Here he is, busy as can be with his business, and he takes time out to work on Viola’s place. That’s so typical of him. Always pitching in to help friends and neighbors.”

  A regular Good Samaritan, wasn’t he?

  “Oh, I so agree with you,” piped in Lola. “Why just last month our roof sprung a leak during that terrible rainstorm, and not only did Sam send a crew over immediately, but he climbed up there himself in the middle of the pounding rain to make sure it was done right. Why, he could have been struck by lightning doing that, yet he didn’t think a thing of it. He told me that he couldn’t very well let a friend sit knee-deep in water, so he just did what needed to be done. Said it was no big deal.”

  Right. I’ll bet he walks on water too.

  Even Katie had to sing his praises. “Well, he’s always helping folks around here without a thought to himself. He’s just a really nice guy.”

  Jordan rolled her eyes, making a mental note to strangle Katie later.

  One couldn’t accuse these people of being subtle. She wondered when they’d get to the part where they described how lonely Sam was.

  “Sam seems so lonely since he and Penny got that divorce,” Katie said.

  Bingo.

  “I know he does, honey,” Millie added. “He tried his best with that woman, and she never appreciated a single thing he did. All she ever thought about was herself. Personally, I was happy when the marriage ended. They just weren’t right for each other.”

  Now comes the part where he needs a woman in his life.

  “Yeah,” added Millie. “That man needs a woman, for sure. He has a big heart, and needs someone he can give all his love to, who will love him in return.”

  If she could bottle this bullshit, Jordan would be a millionaire.

  Sighing, Millie added, “And a fine specimen of a man he is. If I was thirty years younger I’d be chasing him all through town, like some of those girls here do. He never seems interested in any of them, though.” Glancing in Jordan’s direction, she added, “Maybe he hasn’t found the right one to let catch him. Yet.”

  Admittedly it was a pretty good effort. And it was interesting to hear what everyone thought of Sam. He had a good reputation as a hard worker and a good friend and neighbor, which was quite a testimonial. She supposed she hadn’t really considered Sam’s good qualities, because he had the annoying habit of pissing her off on a regular basis.

  Sidling over to Jordan, Katie asked, “Okay, tell me. How long have you and Sam been dating?”

  It was only a matter of time before that rumor got started. “We’re not, and you know that.”

  Glaring at her friend had no effect whatsoever. Katie wasn’t the least bit intimidated. Instead, she arched her brows in surprise. “Damn, girl, if you’re not, then you should be. He’s hotter than a Carolina summer, if you ask me.”

  She didn’t recall asking.

  Nevertheless, Katie was intent on giving one hundred percent to her sales pitch. Wiping her brow and launching into her best southern belle impression, Katie said “Well lordy me, if I were you, I’d be askin’ that hot young Sam Tanner to call on me.” She concluded by fanning herself with her notes.

  Jordan laughed, finally giving up and allowing herself to relax a bit.

  Deciding to play along with the southern bit, she stood and said, “Why Miss Katie, surely you don’t mean to say that nice-looking Mr. Tanner is available? Well my goodness me, the thought of taking up with the likes of that gentleman is enough to make a girl swoon with desire.”

  They looked at each other and Katie smirked. That was all it took. They both broke into a fit of laughter, only to be interrupted by a husky male voice behind them.

  “Swoon with desire, Jordan? Well I had no idea you felt that way about me,” Sam replied with a wicked grin as he stood in the doorway to the kitchen.

  Jordan stood rooted to the spot, flames of embarrassment heating her cheeks. Then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, he grabbed her and bent her backward over his left arm.

  Her breath caught as he lowered his head to hers. Their eyes met, long enough for Jordan to see the turquoise orbs darken with desire. Before she could object, Sam’s lips grazed hers in a soft, gentle kiss.

  Without any time for thought, Jordan’s instincts kicked in and her lips parted for him. He fit his mouth firmly over hers, and any further consideration of time and place went right out the window.

  She sighed at the pleasure of being held in a man’s arms. He tasted like coffee and peppermint, his lips sliding magically over hers. His tongue lightly teased hers, sending little shocks of awareness and desire coursing through her body. Then as quickly as it began it was over, and he pulled her upright and stood next to her, grinning.

  Their performance elicited hoots, hollers and applause from everyone in the kitchen. Reality returned and Jordan realized what she had done.

  She was mortified Sam had caught her playacting with Katie, especially considering he was the subject of their amusement. But then to be swooped over in his arms like that, and have him kiss her in front of all these people. She was certain the rumor mill would be running nonstop from now until Christmas. Yet despite her mortification, the taste of his kiss still burned on her lips.

  How was she supposed to react to this? Should she be angry with Sam for kissing her in front of all these people? She wasn’t a teenager anymore, and really shouldn’t have been as affected by that brief touch of lips as she had been. It was just for fun, at least that’s how it appeared to everyone else.

  She’d just make the best of it and have it appear
as if their little kissing scene was nothing more than a game. Jordan grabbed Sam’s hand for balance and then dropped a curtsey to her audience. Sam, following her lead, bowed to their applause.

  “That was so much fun!” Katie exclaimed as she ran over and hugged Jordan. “You’re such a talented actress. And Sam,” she said as she punched him in the arm, “Why aren’t you in this play with us? You’ve got the romantic leading man part down, that’s for certain.”

  Sam laughed. “I think I’ll stick to where my true talents are.”

  “Well!” said Millie emphatically. “If you two aren’t the most romantic couple since Scarlett and Rhett, I don’t know who is. How long have you been dating, and why didn’t I know about it?”

  “We’re not…” Jordan was about to correct Millie’s assumption, but Sam interrupted her.

  “To be honest, we haven’t dated—yet. However, I was going to ask Jordan to go out with me tonight. Think my impromptu performance here could win me a date with the town’s newest drama director?”

  Damn, damn, damn! A glance at their audience told her there was no way she could turn him down now. Of course they expected her to say yes. According to all of these people, the two of them were a match made in heaven. Jordan would come off as hurtful and insulting if she turned him down in front of this crowd. And she bet Sam knew that too.

  With a tight smile on her face she turned to Sam. “Of course. I’d love to go out with you tonight.”

  “Great!” he said, and another round of applause circled the room. “Pick you up here about seven-thirty. Back to work for me. I have to finish up early so I can get ready for my date.” He winked at everyone, then stepped through the back door, annoying Jordan even more as he whistled his way out.

  Bastard. He probably planned that whole thing just to get her to agree to a date. She’d bet Katie was in on it, too.

  The Katie who was currently doing her best to avoid getting caught alone with Jordan.

  Oh, she’d have words with her alleged friend later.

  Heaving a great sigh of exasperation, she gathered the cast members and shuffled them back into the great room to continue their rehearsal.

  A date. She couldn’t believe it. As hard as she had tried to put some distance between her and Sam, her whole plan had backfired.

  Looking to the heavens for divine intervention, and seeing none forthcoming, Jordan resigned herself to going out with Sam Tanner that evening.

  Chapter Six

  “It’s not a date.” Jordan glared at Katie, who’d lingered after rehearsal to “help” her get ready.

  Like she needed help. Besides, it wasn’t a date. As she tried to figure out what to wear she kept reminding herself of that fact.

  “Is too a date.” Katie sat on Jordan’s bed, a bag of potato chips in one hand and a glass of iced tea in the other.

  “This is your fault, anyway.” Katie’s and everyone else who put her up to this. Still irritated at Sam and, for that matter, the rest of the people who conned her into going out with him tonight, she hadn’t planned on dressing up. She hadn’t planned anything other than trying to get through the night without screaming in frustration.

  “If it’s not a date, how come you’ve tried on six different outfits in the past half-hour?” Katie asked.

  Jordan did the only thing she could think of in response. She stuck her tongue out.

  Katie laughed. “See? Look at that dress you’re wearing. You’re gonna knock him dead with that little slip of a thing. Therefore, it’s a date.”

  “Look. The only reason I chose the yellow silk sundress is because it’s so hot and humid outside.”

  “Uh-huh. Has nothing to do with the fact the dress rides dangerously near your upper thighs, nor that it slides over your body like lapping ocean waves. After all, you’re not dressing for anyone in particular, right?”

  Jordan rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe I ever considered you my friend. You’re supposed to be on my side.”

  “I am, honey. And I can feel the tension between you and Sam. Hell, everyone in town can feel it. That first love never dies, Jordie, you should know that.”

  “I’m not in love with Sam. Never was. It was a teenage crush, and that’s all.”

  Shaking her head, Katie slipped off the bed and grabbed Jordan’s hands. “It’s okay to let someone love you. It’s okay to let yourself experience it, too. You’re not your mom, Jordan. Nothing like her.”

  And she never would be. “I’m just doing this to placate all of you. Quit making a big deal out of it. And by the way, how’s your love life?”

  Katie’s eyes widened. “Me? I’m busy. Don’t have time.”

  “You weren’t too busy to get involved in the play. And you aren’t too busy to be pushing me toward Sam. So what’s going on with you?”

  “Nothing.”

  Katie averted her gaze and stared into the bag of chips.

  Hmm, definitely something up there. “Want to talk about it?”

  “Nope. Nothing to talk about. My business is going well, I spend a lot of my time welding artwork, and Mom keeps up the store.”

  “I love those knickknacks and garden items you sculpt.” Katie was a whiz at it, and had used her talents to make metalwork that sold like hotcakes at her mother’s antique store.

  “Thanks. Like I said, it keeps me busy.”

  “Too busy to find the man of your dreams?”

  Katie snorted and grabbed the chips and tea. “I don’t have time to dream. I’ll let myself out. Enjoy your date. I want a full report tomorrow morning.”

  Nice evasion tactic, but Jordan would definitely be probing more into her friend’s lack of social life. Hell, turnabout was fair play, right?

  Jordan leaned her face into the small fan on top of the dressing table. It was hot outside, that’s why she was perspiring. Not because she had exerted herself for the past half hour trying on clothes in an effort to find the right thing to wear for her non-date.

  Okay, maybe the dress was short, sinfully sexy and hugged her body like a lover would. It was just a little bit possible she wanted to make Sam suffer. After all, she was frustrated at this whole charade. It was only fair that Sam put up with a bit too.

  Staring at her reflection in the mirror above the dresser, Jordan barely recognized herself. Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. Her face was flushed and her eyes were accented with pale gold shadow and a light coating of mascara, making them sparkle like gems. There was a glow to her skin that hadn’t been there before.

  Probably the heat.

  Damn Katie for making her go through this. She’d have just tossed on jeans and worn no makeup, then braided her hair. But no. Katie had insisted that Sam might be taking her to a nice restaurant and she should dress accordingly.

  But she not only looked different, she felt different. It couldn’t be her date with Sam. She had dated plenty in New York, admittedly with men who didn’t stir her senses like Sam. There was a good reason she chose stuffy business types or someone involved with theater as dates. Neither of those types of men evoked one ounce of the fire that Sam flamed within her.

  There was just something about a man who worked outside, with his hands, in the heat. A man who wasn’t afraid to get dirty. A man who wore jeans that hugged his body so sinfully they should be outlawed.

  How could her complete aversion to men like Sam turn into an undeniable attraction that threatened to consume her every thought? And, more importantly, what was she going to do about it? Why was she dressed this way, when she knew what Sam’s reaction would be? Was she doing it to aggravate him, dangle the carrot only to snatch it away when he wanted it the most? Or was she deliberately trying to attract him, make him desire her like no man ever had?

  Some questions were better left unanswered.

  After slipping on her sandals, she headed downstairs to wait, vowing to endure the evening like a good sport. After all, it was nothing more than dinner and then her obligation to Sam and the peop
le who encouraged this date would be fulfilled. Then she could go about her business and he could go about his.

  In a few weeks, she’d be gone. No sense in getting something started.

  She glanced longingly up the stairs, wishing she’d had time to take the edge off with one of her vibrators. Her nerve endings sang in anticipation.

  Anticipation of what? Nothing was going to happen tonight!

  And it wasn’t a date!

  The chime of the doorbell indicated Sam was, as usual, right on time. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

  He had brought her flowers. God, and he looked so good. Jeans again. Dark, newer than his work jeans, and of course they had to fit him perfectly, had to outline his muscular thighs, had to showcase the bulge in his crotch.

  Shit.

  The dark blue of his short-sleeved polo shirt accentuated his turquoise eyes. And he smelled like… Jordan inhaled. Obsession. Her favorite men’s cologne. Well that figured. He looked good, smelled great, and he brought flowers. Damn him!

  “Come in.” She moved away from the door.

  His gaze raked over her body from head to toe. She warmed under his scrutiny.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said as he entered. “You take my breath away, Jordan.”

  Damn. Spoken in that husky tone of his, she moistened, her body opening and arousing instantaneously.

  How did he do that to her?

  Okay, so the compliment pleased her more than she cared to admit. She didn’t want to ponder the whys of that either, mentally adding it to her previous list of questions best left unanswered.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Sam handed her the flowers. “Most women seem to like roses, but you don’t seem the roses type to me.”

  The bouquet of lilies and freesia was beautiful and smelled intoxicating, like warm summer nights near the ocean, tropical and sensual.

  “Thank you, Sam. They’re lovely, and you’re right. I’m not the roses type at all.” How did he know that? Most men didn’t. If they bothered to bring her flowers at all, they were typically roses. But the bouquet in her arms was by far the most beautiful she’d ever received.