by Lisa Carter
Jax reached to cup her face and...he dropped his hand. What was he doing? Confusion written across her features, she sat back.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
“Flirting is just so instinctual to you, isn’t it?” Her nostrils flared. “Kind of like breathing to the rest of us.”
But far better he tick her off than the alternative. Therein lay only ruin for both of them. “Don’t take it personally. I’ve sworn off women.”
She actually snorted.
“I’m serious, Darcy. I’m no good at love.”
“You plan to remain single for the rest of your life? You?” She smirked. “Jaxon Delano Pruitt?”
He jutted his jaw. “Yes. I do.”
She flung out her hand. “Fish gotta swim. Birds gotta fly, Jax.”
He shook his head. “I plan to devote myself to being Brody’s father.”
“At the risk of sounding like my mother, do finding love and raising a child have to be mutually exclusive?”
“Considering what happened with Adrienne—” He clamped his jaw tight. “It’s better for everyone if I stick to my plan.”
“As usual, you’re full of plans, aren’t you?” She pursed her lips. “And I’ll believe it when I see it. You are the biggest flirt I’ve ever met.”
“Maybe just with you.”
She came out of her chair, fists balled. “Just with me?” Her eyes flashed. “Because I’m safe? Because I’m so out of the realm of real possibility?”
“I didn’t mean...” Rising, he crossed his arms. “Why is every conversation with you full of land mines?”
“Which only proves Labor Day can’t come soon enough for me, Jax Pruitt.”
“Right back at you, sister.”
She vibrated. “I’m not your sister.”
He lifted his chin. “I’ve always been well aware of that fact.”
Darcy charged toward the steps, then whirled and came back again. “Here’s something else for you to ponder, Pruitt. We’re stuck working with each other for the next few months. But don’t, I repeat, don’t—” her finger jabbed into his chest, punctuating her words “—mess with me.”
“I can do peaceful coexistence. Can you, Darce?”
“Me? You are so...” She stomped down the stairs, muttering vastly uncomplimentary things about his personhood.
He raked his hand over his face. Coexistence maybe. Peaceful, though, wasn’t a word he’d use to describe him and Darcy.
Another more dangerous word leaped to mind. Which he immediately rejected. A place he couldn’t afford to go. Not after his track record with Adrienne. Not when it came to Darcy.
Chapter Five
Tuesday morning, Darcy didn’t feel up to dealing with more mixed signals from Jax. So she texted him that she’d meet him late afternoon for the sunset paddle. Leaving him in the capable hands of the hometown college kids she’d already hired as the first week of the summer season kicked off.
He didn’t reply. She knew that because she kept her cell turned on. In case Savannah or Ozzie or Chas needed her. Right... She’d just keep telling herself that.
With her dad putting together next Sunday’s sermon in the study—doing the usual floor pacing—and her mom headed to a guild meeting at the church, Darcy found herself at loose ends. She disliked having free time on her hands. But with Jax Pruitt’s return, more than her schedule had gone out the window.
Thoughts of what almost happened last night clattered around inside her head. She should be ecstatic nothing had happened. Should be... Right?
With her untapped energy near flash point, she decided to power wash the driveway. She’d reached the three-quarter mark when a blue RAV4 pulled in next door. Darcy turned off the machine, her ears ringing from the deafening noise.
Anna hopped out. “How do you like my new wheels?” she shouted.
Darcy laid down the hose. “I thought you might choose red this time.” Anna’s favorite color.
The blue color was the only similarity the RAV4 shared with the vintage VW Beetle Anna had driven since high school. But the Bug had met a watery demise on Christmas Eve.
Darcy’s bare feet squelched across the wet pavement as she walked to the Pruitt side. “Is the world’s most fabulous baby inside this new ride of yours?”
Anna laughed, tucking her long, straight brown hair behind her ear. “We’ve been shopping in Onancock.”
Darcy wiped her hands on the backside of her shorts and poked her head through the open passenger door. “Hey, Ruby Dooby. Y’all here to see Grandma Gail?”
Recognizing her voice, the dark-haired baby with her late father’s Latino coloring smiled so widely her dark eyes went into crescent moons. Thrilling her honorary Aunt Darcy.
“Actually...” Anna flipped her hair over her shoulder “...we’re here to see you. Unless you’d rather we come back after you’re finished power washing.”
“Please stay. I’d love an excuse to quit.”
Ruby’s little arms reached for her, but Darcy hesitated. “Maybe you should get her out, Anna. I’m soaking wet. I don’t want to get her dirty.”
“It’s you she wants to see, Darcy.”
Ruby strained forward as far as the straps allowed.
“Okay, you’ve been warned.” But secretly pleased, Darcy made short work of the buckles and picked her up.
Cupping her hand on top of Ruby’s head as she backed out of the vehicle, Darcy closed her eyes for a second. Savoring the feel of the child in her arms. Inhaling the clean scent of her baby shampoo.
Darcy felt her heart speed up, recalling the endearing sweetness of Jax’s son, Brody. For despite what she’d said to her mother, if Darcy’s situation had been different, she would’ve so wanted a child of her own. Jax’s child?
She gritted her teeth. If there was one thing she’d learned from her father’s melancholy, it was that there was no point wishing for what you couldn’t have. And she stuffed that idle musing into the dark recesses of never-gonna-happen.
Ruby in her arms, she headed to the broad-planked porch of the parsonage. She and Anna sank into the pair of rocking chairs flanking a pot of hot-pink dahlias.
Her feet planted flat on the weathered boards and Ruby on her lap, she set the rocker in motion. “I cannot believe this little girl is almost six months old.”
Anna’s brown eyes—uncomfortably like her brother Jax’s—lit up. “A lot of water under that proverbial bridge, right?”
Darcy laughed.
They could laugh now, but only because of the subsequent happy ending. Anna’s car had slid off one of the many bridges spanning the tidal estuaries during an ice storm. Stranding widowed Anna—heavily in labor—until she was rescued by her former high school sweetheart, Ryan Savage. In February, Darcy and Evy had served as bridesmaids when Anna and Ryan finally tied the knot.
“Is Ryan at the district office today?”
Ruby reached for the gold hoop dangling from Darcy’s ear. Wincing, Darcy removed her earring from the baby’s surprisingly tenacious grip.
Anna handed her jingling car keys to her long-awaited, much-loved daughter. “His new job as the coordinator for at-risk students finally enabled us to buy a new vehicle.”
“Will you teach at the elementary school next fall?”
“Ryan wants me to be a stay-at-home mother to Ruby. At least until she starts kindergarten.”
“Oh, Anna...” Darcy bounced Ruby on her lap, earning a baby giggle. “I know how much this means to you.”
“And who knows?” Anna sat forward, her hands laced together on her knees. “Ruby might find herself with a sibling or two in the meantime.”
“That would be wonderful.”
Anna’s brown eyes pooled. “You of all people understand what a long road it was for Ryan and me.”
Darcy’s eyes misted, too. “I’m so, so happy for you, dear friend.”
And she was. Anna and Ryan’s happily-ever-after had been wrought only after a great deal of pain.
“But—” Anna rapped her palms of the armrests of the rocker “—I came over here to talk about you.”
Darcy looked up from razzing Ruby’s neck with her lips. “Me?”
“You and my brother.”
“I guess you heard about his buyout of the business.” Darcy stilled at a sudden unwelcome thought. “You probably knew about it before I did.”
Anna leaned across the dahlias to touch Darcy’s arm. “I only knew he was coming home.”
Some of the betrayal Darcy had felt since Saturday seeped away. It had hurt thinking everyone was in on this except for her.
“I know how much you wanted the Kiptohanock shop, Darcy. I understand how strange it must be with Jax coming home.”
Darcy shook her head. “I’ll manage.”
Sixteen-year-old Anna had proved herself a true friend when Jax left for Basic. Loyalty counted for a lot in Darcy’s experience.
Anna blew out a breath. “Jax says Brody has formed quite a connection with you.”
Darcy really, really didn’t want to spend a perfectly fine Tuesday morning talking about Anna’s brother. Not when she was doing her best not to see him—much less think about him.
“I guess you also heard I’m leaving come Labor Day.” She gave Anna a brittle smile. “Exiled. Banished.”
“Although I realize everything seems wrong to you...” Anna covered Darcy’s hand with hers. “Despite evidence to the contrary, I have faith it will all turn out right in the end.”
Darcy’s eyes stung. “Will it?” Jax had said almost the exact same words Saturday night.
“For you. For Jax. And for Brody, too.” Anna’s voice hitched. “Somehow. Some way. Remember what your dad says.”
Darcy grimaced. “You mean, if it’s not right, then it’s not the end?”
Anna squeezed her hand. “Hang in there, sweet sister of my heart. I truly believe God has beautiful plans for your life.”
Plans? Anna sounded like her brother. And Darcy would like to tell Jax Pruitt once and for all what he could do with his so-called plans...
A suspicious, warm moisture dampened Darcy’s thighs. “Uh, Anna...” She extended Ruby toward her mother. “I think we may have a situation.”
“That’ll teach me to buy the cheapest diapers in the store.” Anna rose. “Sorry about that.”
Darcy followed her off the porch. “No problem. By the time I finish the driveway, I’ll be good as new.”
“Be that as it may...”
They stepped between the fuchsia-flamed crepe myrtles.
“Be that as it may what?”
After opening the hatch, Anna laid her daughter on the carpeted mat. “Would you get the diaper bag out of the backseat for me?”
Darcy moved around to the passenger side.
Anna untaped the diaper on her wiggly infant. “Believe me when I tell you how much my parents and I appreciate the sacrifices you’re making for Brody and Jax.”
Silent, Darcy passed the diaper bag over the headrest.
Anna made short work of changing the diaper. “Jax feels bad about the position he’s put you in unintentionally.”
In view of what almost happened last night, Darcy decided not to share her thoughts on Jax’s supposed intentionality. But her expression must’ve given her away.
“No, I mean it, Darcy. He’s always had a special feeling for you.”
Darcy squared her shoulders. “Seriously?”
Anna encircled Ruby’s small, waving feet with one hand. “I am serious. Jax likes tough, strong women like you.” She pressed Ruby’s heels against her lips.
Darcy’s mouth twisted. “I’m nothing like his totally gorgeous, kick-butt soldier wife, Adrienne.”
“True.”
Darcy rocked back.
“But I mean that in the best possible sense.” Anna met her gaze head-on. “Adrienne and Jax weren’t happy, Darcy.”
That was a news flash. And something inside Darcy ached at the thought of Jax unhappy.
She lifted her chin. “Jax claims he’s sworn off women.”
“Like that’s going to happen,” sniffed his sister.
She exchanged smirks with Anna. “That’s what I said.”
Lifting Ruby, Anna settled the child in her arms. “So there’s no good reason not to see what God intends for the both of you this summer.”
“You sound like my mother.”
“Who is a very wise woman,” Anna reminded her, before placing Ruby in her car seat and driving away.
But later that afternoon by the time she arrived at the shop, Darcy had managed to come up with a dozen reasons why working with Jaxon Pruitt was a mistake. Out back, she found him running through warm-up exercises with the honeymooning couple.
In waterproof Chaco sandals, Jax placed his hands against the dock pylon. Extending one long leg behind him, he demonstrated how to stretch the hamstring muscle. And during the torso rotation, his T-shirt clung to his tight abs. Her cheeks flamed when he caught her staring.
Jax helped the bride into a tandem sea kayak. On the water in her hot pink Squamish kayak, Darcy went through the last paddle instructions with the honeymooners, while Jax eased into the lime-green NDK Explorer he’d chosen, based on fit and maneuverability.
With the kayaks gathered in a semicircle, she dipped her paddle into the murky water and led the way, single file. Jax would bring up the rear. Hugging the shoreline, Darcy kept their caravan of kayaks clear of marina traffic. Navigating the half-moon harbor could be tricky. She always breathed a sigh of relief upon rounding the point.
The channel widened as they paddled the inter-coastal waterway. Every now and again she paused, paddle resting across her lap, and drew their attention to various sights. A derelict oyster shucking facility, long past its heyday. The ruins of a village on a distant barrier island.
“A town out here?” The bride’s eyes grew large. “Talk about isolated.”
Darcy relayed a few stories she’d learned from her father about what life had been like for the families who’d fished the sea in a bygone era.
The groom, a Navy corpsman stationed in Norfolk, shook his head. “Why was the village abandoned?”
Jax answered before Darcy could. “The Chesapeake hurricane of 1933 forced the locals off the islands and onto the peninsula.”
The bride shivered. “Does anyone still live there?”
Jax leaned forward in his kayak. “Most of the barrier islands are owned by conservation organizations now.”
Pointing out a snowy egret rising from the cattails, Darcy picked up her paddle again. The route narrowed as she headed through the salt marsh into a winding creek, a constricting tunnel of green cordgrass, like a maze with its hairpin twists and turns. She hung back to make sure the honeymooners negotiated one of the sharp curves.
“We’ll take a break soon,” she said encouragingly. “It’s not far.”
Her arms went into the rhythmic push-pull, right-left rotation. Nearing the exposed portion of sand, she leaped out of the kayak into the water. Pulling her boat onto the muddy embankment, she turned to assist the honeymooners. But having beached his kayak, Jax dragged the tandem craft ashore and held it steady as the bride extricated herself.
The young woman plodded through the calf-high water. “That was fun.”
Darcy smiled. “Looks like y’all were getting the hang of it.”
“We passed the test.” Joining his wife on the beach, the groom planted a kiss on her lips. “Probably should’ve taken the kayak trip before we tied the knot.”
Darcy helped Jax stow the paddles out of reach of the incoming tide. “What t
est?”
“The canoe test.” The corpsman grinned. “Or in this case, the kayak test. I’ve always heard the best future indicator of a relationship is a canoe trip.”
Darcy planted her hands on her hips. “How do you mean?”
The bride smiled. “It reveals how a couple will handle challenges.”
Jax tilted his head. “Like working in tandem to navigate strong currents or unexpected hazards.”
The groom placed his arm around his wife’s slim waist. “How they resolve power struggles, too.”
Darcy shot Jax a look. “The old ‘I’ll steer, you paddle’ routine?”
His lips quirked. “Long as one of them doesn’t jump out of the canoe and throw a paddle at the other.”
The bride chuckled. “And not get sucked into the blame game.”
Jax sobered. “The biggest thing might be the ability to just stay in the canoe. To not get out and quit.”
Was he speaking from bitter personal experience?
Darcy couldn’t bear the look on his face. “Maybe we should start promoting problem-solving excursions to engaged couples.”
“Happily-ever-after paddling.” The bride laughed. “I love it.”
Jax’s eyebrow cocked. “A test of mutual trust, eh, Darce?”
She didn’t answer, instead taking the faint trail to the other side of the dune. She waded into the Atlantic, the ocean water cold against her ankles. The honeymooners followed.
For their inspection, Jax held up the hermit crab he’d plucked from a tidal pool. At his smile, Darcy felt her stomach tighten in a familiar way, but the crab withdrew into its shell. Like her with Jax?
The couple strolled along the seashore, beachcombing. To her delight, the bride found a nearly intact conch shell, half buried in the sand. Jax pointed out oyster half shells and mussels that had washed ashore.
How would she and Jax fare in the same kayak? Could they work together? Was it time to stop fighting the current?
Standing next to Jax, she watched the glowing sun sink lower in the sky. Farther down the beach, the honeymooners nestled in each other’s arms. With a sudden burst of orange and gold, the sun disappeared behind the western horizon.
