Magnolia Summer

by Jaci Burton

  Cookie forced a tremulous smile as he entered the office. He barely grumbled a hello as he walked past, went into his office and closed the door.

  Sam felt bad because he knew he’d been grumpy lately. He barked at Cookie, yelled at his crew, and Tony was so pissed at him he threatened to deck him next time Sam said a surly word. Oh yeah, he was pure joy to be around these days. No wonder no one bothered to knock at his door after he arrived in the mornings. They really didn’t want to be around him. He didn’t blame them—he could barely stand himself.

  All because Jordan had gone back to New York. And he wanted her back.

  But he hadn’t done a goddamned thing about getting her back.

  An idea formed in his sleep-deprived mind. A really stupid idea, but one that refused to go away.

  If he flew to New York to see her, stayed there for a few days and tried to convince her of his love, maybe she’d come back.

  But what if she didn’t? Jordan loved New York, loved living in a large city. Was it fair of him to love a woman with all his heart, yet expect her to make all the sacrifices? Why couldn’t he make the sacrifice?

  Of course it would mean moving. To a large city. Something he swore he’d never do.

  He remembered thinking to himself not long ago that love wasn’t fair. He loved Jordan, and wanted her back. If he had to move to New damn York then that’s what he’d do. He certainly had plenty of money to start his own business there, if he liquidated his assets in Magnolia.

  A loud knock at the door to his office was followed by Tony throwing it open so hard it hit the wall with a loud crack. Sam jumped up, prepared for battle.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Get out and leave me alone!”

  Completely ignoring his outburst, Tony flopped down in the chair in front of Sam’s desk and leaned back comfortably, grinning from ear to ear.

  “What are you grinning about? You get laid last night and want to share the good news? Thanks but no thanks. I don’t want to hear about it.”

  Tony threw his head back and laughed. “I get laid almost every night, partner. And I never kiss and tell.”

  Sam couldn’t help but smile at Tony’s cockiness. A true friend as well as a partner, it didn’t matter one whit to Tony whether Sam was in a bad mood or not. If Tony was in a good one, which he usually was, he always shared it.

  “Sit down and relax. I’m not here to fight with you. At least not today. Keep pissing me off though, and I might take you on tomorrow.”

  Sam shot Tony a hard look, barely keeping the corners of his mouth from forming a grin. “I’d kick your ass.”

  “Dream on, old man.”

  “Give me a break. I’m six months older than you are.”

  “Exactly. Too old to take me on.”

  Banter like this was exactly what he needed to snap him out of his misery. It didn’t make it go away, but at least helped push thoughts of Jordan aside momentarily.

  “What’s on the agenda today?”

  Tony shrugged. “Same stuff as yesterday. Oh, except for one thing.”

  “What?” Hopefully it was new business. Starting a new project would certainly help take his mind off feeling sorry for himself.

  “Katie asked if you could come by the theater and look at the stage. Seems it might need some refurbishing or something.”

  Great. Another reminder of Jordan—just what he didn’t need right now. “Can’t you take care of it?”

  Tony shook his head. “Nope. That one’s all yours. I have to supervise a crew down at London’s Millhouse. They’re getting ready to put up the skeleton, so I need to be there. Anyway, I already told Katie you’d pop over this morning to take a look.”

  Katie had temporarily taken over director’s duties at the theater after Jordan left, until another could be found. Although no one was anxious to find a replacement for Jordan.

  Sighing, he nodded. “Fine. I’ll go take a look now, before I get wrapped up in something else.” Seeing Tony’s grin, Sam looked at him quizzically. “What are you so happy about this morning?”

  “It’s just a great day and I’m happy,” Tony said with an annoying grin.

  “Well spread it somewhere else,” Sam growled. “You’re beginning to piss me off.”

  Tony winked at him. “That’s the idea.”

  “While you’re here, I have a question for you.”

  “Okay. Shoot.”

  “If I were to sell my half of TNT Construction, would you be willing to buy me out?”

  Tony arched a brow. “You thinking of selling?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Why?”

  “I might be considering a move.”

  Leaning back in the chair, Tony crossed his arms over his chest. “Really? Where?”

  “New York.”

  “I see.” Tony was silent for a few minutes, his expression unreadable. Then his lips tilted in a sly smile. “We can talk about it.”

  Sam nodded. “Okay. I’m going to be gone a few days, too. I have some personal business to take care of, so we’ll discuss this when I get back.”

  “Sure, partner. Whatever you want. Just let me know when you’re ready.”

  Tony stood and walked out of the office, singing one of the songs from The Music Man. Sam didn’t quite understand why his partner was smiling so smugly at him, but didn’t really have time to think about it.

  While heading down the block toward the theater, he started to make plans. After he met with Katie, he’d make arrangements to fly to New York tomorrow, and camp out on Jordan’s doorstep until she let him in. Then he’d tell her he loved her, over and over again until she believed him.

  Once they got past that, he’d tell her he was moving to New York to be with her.

  He opened the door to the theater. It was dark inside. No answer when he called out Katie’s name either. Well, hell. The last thing he needed was a delay. There were things he needed to take care of. He headed through the doors to the small auditorium, finding a single light shining on the makeshift stage.

  Katie ran out into the spotlight, sporting the same idiotic grin Tony had.

  “Take a seat, Sam,” Katie shouted. “I’ll be right with you.” Then she disappeared backstage. He could have sworn she was giggling.

  He sat down and looked around. He felt Jordan everywhere. Every time he looked at this place he was reminded of her. God, he could even smell her perfume. His head dropped to his chest and he heaved a huge sigh.

  “Sam.”

  His head whipped up at the sound of Jordan’s voice. He couldn’t believe it was really her, standing center stage in the spotlight. But it was. Dressed in a blue cotton sundress and sandals, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders, she was like a dream. Real or not, she was a vision that took his breath away.

  But what was she doing back here?

  Jordan took a deep breath. She’d rehearsed over and over what she was going to say to Sam, but now that he was here she couldn’t remember any of it.

  Sam walked up the steps to the stage, stopping a few feet away from her.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I came back,” she replied nervously.

  “Why?”

  “I missed you.”

  “I see.” He moved closer until he was only inches away. She drank in the sight and crisp, male scent of him, feeling like it had been years instead of weeks since she’d seen him. Now, as she looked at his tanned face, gorgeous turquoise eyes and full sensuous lips, she wanted nothing more than to wrap herself around him and never let go.

  “I want you, Sam,” she admitted. “I…I was wrong not to trust you. My parents’ relationship has gotten in my way my whole life. I thought if I fell in love with someone, I’d end up like my mother.”

  “And did you?”

  “Did I what?”

  “Did you fall in love?”

  She took the single step necessary to walk into his arms and change her life.

  “Yes, Sa
m. I fell in love. With you.”

  She slid her arms around his neck and pressed her mouth against his, asking him without words to take her back. He pulled her close and plundered her mouth, searing her with the touch of their lips. She kissed him with all the pent-up longing of the past few weeks, telling him in that kiss what was in her heart. All the love, and all the trust she could give him.

  Sam finally broke the kiss, and slid his thumb over the tear that escaped her eye.

  “Jordan, I’m moving to New York.”

  What was he talking about? “What?”

  “You heard me. I love you, and I want to be with you. But it wouldn’t be fair to ask you to sacrifice your dream for me. I know how you feel about New York, how much you love it there. Once I sell my half of TNT to Tony, I’ll have plenty of capital to start a business in New York. Hell, they’re always building something there.”

  She was too shocked to speak. The man who hated big cities, who’d ended a marriage because he refused to move to one, was offering to completely change his life for her. Her heart pounded in her chest as the realization hit her.

  He really did love her.

  “I hate New York,” she replied, a smile curving her lips.

  Sam’s eyes widened. “You do?”

  “Yes. I just didn’t realize it until I got back there. Magnolia is my home, Sam. I’m here because this is where I want to be. With you. This is my dream.”

  He pulled her into his arms, kissing her senseless.

  “I love you,” she said, the tears now falling in earnest.

  “I love you too, baby. God, I missed you so much when you left.”

  They held each other for a moment, then Sam gently backed away. “I want to ask you a question.”

  “Okay.” She wondered why he was doing getting down on the floor, then she realized what was happening. Chills broke out all over her body as Sam got on one knee, taking her hand in his.

  She couldn’t believe this was happening. Her legs were shaking and her heart beat so fast she was afraid she’d hyperventilate.

  “Jordan Lee Weston, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”

  For the first time in her life, completely without hesitation, she felt truly loved.

  “Yes,” she said through the tears. “I love you too, Sam Ethan Tanner, with all my heart. I would be honored to marry you.”

  A round of applause broke out. She turned to see all their friends at the back of the theater, shouting congratulations and applauding Sam’s proposal. The entire cast of the play was there, along with Millie, Katie and Tony, who stood in the front row of the crowd, arms crossed, huge satisfied smiles on their faces.

  She grinned at her friends, those matchmaking busybodies who wouldn’t leave them alone. She had them to thank for pounding the truth into her head.

  Instead of rushing the stage to congratulate them, they slipped out the door, leaving Jordan and Sam alone.

  “I feel the need to celebrate with you,” Sam said with a gleam in his eye.

  Jordan raised an eyebrow. “Celebrate, huh? That can only mean one thing.”

  He laughed and picked her up, showering her with kisses. “Let’s go home.” The sensuous tone in his voice signaled his readiness to consummate their engagement.

  “We’ll have to go to your place,” she replied. “As of yet, I don’t have a home.”

  Sam grinned like a little boy who just hit his first home run. “Yeah, you do.”

  “No, I don’t. Remember? I sold Belle Coeur.” Her smile faded. “That’s what I regret the most. I foolishly sold Grandma’s house. I thought I wanted money to start my own theater, and I sold the home I loved to get it. Now I’ve lost it.”

  Sam kissed the tip of her nose. “No, you haven’t.”

  She didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”

  “I bought the house. I’ve always loved that old place, and when I realized I loved you I wanted to make it our home.”

  He’d bought Belle Coeur. For her. For the two of them. No wonder she loved him so much. “Oh Sam, I can’t believe you did that.” The waterworks started again, but she didn’t care.

  Sam wiped the tears from her face, and kissed her. “A man in love knows exactly what his woman needs, even if said stubborn, mule-headed woman doesn’t always listen to reason.”

  She laughed, her heart soaring free with the fullness of her love for him. “I can’t wait to marry you, Sam. I want to have children with you and share our lives here in Magnolia. One built on trust and the love we feel for each other.”

  Sam wrapped his arms around her. “Let’s go home. To Belle Coeur.”

  She could barely sit still as they made the drive up the long path leading to the house.

  Home. For the first time, no ghosts of the past greeted her, only the love that her grandmother had always showed her in the past, and the love she felt for the man clutching her hand and leading her up the stairs.

  “I’d like to do this right, but I can’t wait any longer,” he said as soon as they opened the door.

  She knew what he wanted, because she wanted it too.

  “Hurry up then,” she teased. “I haven’t had sex in…weeks.”

  He laughed, swooping her off her feet and into his arms and heading into the great room. “I’ve always wanted to fuck you here, over that antique couch. Are you scandalized?”

  With an arched brow, she fanned her face with her hand and dredged up her handy southern belle accent. “Why, Mr. Tanner, surely you don’t mean to ravage me right here in the parlor.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I do.”

  Then no words were necessary as the look on Sam’s face was more than enough to fire her libido to a fever-pitch. He jerked the dress up and flipped her around, bending her over the back of the couch. Her panties were quickly disposed of, his jeans were dropped to the floor and a hot, hard male body pressed against her buttocks.

  He reached between her legs and caressed her slit, probing, relentlessly stroking and caressing her until her juices spilled onto his fingers. He situated himself between her legs and thrust inside her.

  She came immediately, all the pent-up anxiety and emotion flying away in the face of exhilarating pleasure. But he didn’t stop, instead continued to pound at her sex, hard and fast, until his balls slapped against her clit and took her over the edge again. When his climax hit him, he grabbed her hips and ground against her, spilling inside her again and again until his come poured down her quivering legs.

  Spent, she could only lie there draped over the couch until Sam pulled her upright, massaging her lower back and kissing the nape of her neck.

  She shivered, turned and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “This old house is never going to be the same again,” she teased.

  “It has a lot of rooms. I intend to fuck you in each one of them, more than once.”

  Somehow she already knew their lives together would never be dull. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Epilogue

  Two Years Later

  Jordan couldn’t contain her cheesy grin as she held the oversized scissors in her hands.

  “Need some help with that?”

  She looked up lovingly at her husband. Sam smiled, his eyes filled with love and pride. Every time Jordan looked at him her heart soared.

  “Since you built it, I think it’s appropriate that you help me cut the ribbon.”

  He placed his much larger hands over hers, and together they sliced through the big satin ribbon signaling the grand opening of the Magnolia Performing Arts Center.

  The applause rang out as almost everyone in town cheered and clapped loudly.

  She took a deep breath and fought back tears as she looked at the imposing structure in front of her. The large brick building was just another one of the many dreams that had come true for Jordan in the past couple years.

  TNT Construction had done a wonderful job. The theater was huge, with a graduated audience section fifty rows
in depth. It even had an orchestra pit. And the stage—now that was comparable to any New York theater. Trap doors, lights, sound, everything she could have ever wanted was there.

  And it was hers. Her theater. Not just a storefront with a makeshift stage in the back room. But an honest to God performing arts center.

  She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand and felt a tug at her long skirt.

  “Damma.”

  She looked down at Violet, her one-year-old daughter, and smiled as Sam snuck up behind the child and swept her into his arms.

  “Damma!” she said excitedly, waving her chubby hands in the air as she squealed with delight.

  “Think she’ll ever say momma or dada separately, or will it always be a combo?”

  Sam laughed. “Don’t know. Don’t care. She’s perfect either way. Besides, we are a combo.”

  She had to agree. Watching father and daughter, so similar in looks with their dark hair and turquoise eyes, made the tears well again.

  How lucky she was. She had everything she ever wanted. Everything she’d dreamed about was hers.

  Her theater. Friends and family to love. A husband she loved more than her own life, a child of their love at her side.

  Sam put Violet on his shoulders and grabbed Jordan’s hand as they followed the crowd into the theater for punch and cake.

  “Sam, do you think fate had anything to do with us getting together?” Jordan remembered George Lewiston saying fate had brought her to Magnolia, but didn’t believe it then. Now she did. She believed she was fated to return to Magnolia, fall in love with Sam, and build her theater right here in her hometown.

  “I don’t know about fate, baby, but I know about dreams.”

  His eyes held hers, his gaze still filled with the same passion for her as it had over two years ago. The same passion she felt for him. Never diminishing, always growing.

  “I dreamt of a woman like you my whole life. I dreamt about you my whole life. Wanted you, needed you, even when I didn’t know it. And my dreams came true.”

  Pressing a kiss to her lips, he leaned his head against hers. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life making yours come true.”

  She smiled up at the man she loved so much. “You already have, Sam.”