by Nina Singh
“For her, their marriage was mostly about the money and the lifestyle,” Jordan continued. “And the constant partying.”
“I see.” He didn’t even realize just how well.
“Then my dad got sick himself about three years ago,” Jordan continued. “Sonya was just three.”
“Oh, Jordan. I’m so sorry for your loss,” she could only repeat.
“He fought his illness as long as he could, until about six months ago. Sonya’s mom barely stopped partying long enough to visit her husband’s bedside. I was the one there with him during those final days.”
It didn’t take a genius to figure out what had happened as his father lay dying. “He asked you to take care of Sonya because he didn’t trust her mother to.”
“Give the lady a prize,” Jordan said softly with zero humor behind the lighthearted words. He looked away to where his little sister lay flipping the pages of her book. “Her mother didn’t even pretend to try and fight me. As long as she got her share of the Paydan fortune, which she did. In fact, she didn’t even bother to hide her relief at not having to deal with her own child.”
A deathbed wish. Of course, Jordan had to accept the responsibility suddenly being thrust upon him. Though a lot of lesser men might not have. A lot of men would have just told the dying parent simply what they wanted to hear and then not followed through.
Jordan was not one of those men.
He suddenly pushed his chair back and stood. “Well, enough talk of the past. Let’s go get that ice cream, shall we?”
He was clearly done talking for now. Jess wasn’t one to push, even if Jordan’s recounting of his history had touched several nerves about her own. How different would her own life had turned out if only one responsible relative had taken her in permanently? Rather than the ever-changing chain of homes she’d been tossed to, one after another. Not one person had come through for her the way Jordan had for his little sister.
Well, it was all water under the bridge now. Past history. She’d moved on and made a real life for herself. There was a lot to be said for that. Even if there had been quite a few bumps along the way. And even if it got a little lonely once in a while. She glanced at Jordan from the side of her eye.
Sonya noticed her brother’s movement and came over to the table. Without another word, the three of them walked into the kitchen. Jordan opened the freezer door then turned to look at the two of them with a blank expression.
That was when Jess noticed the ice cream on the counter. Only now it was less ice cream and more a gooey puddle of white speckled with dark pieces of chocolate where it had leaked out of its container as it melted.
“I guess we forgot to put it in the freezer.”
Sonya sniffled with sadness as she studied the mess. She was on the verge of tears. How could she have been so stupid? She’d just been so nervous at the prospect of seeing Jordan again that she’d simply handed the pint to the little girl without making sure it was put away.
“I’m so sorry, Sonya,” she said, kneeling down to look the little girl in the eye. Yep, she was definitely tearing up.
“Nonsense,” Jordan said above them. “You’re our guest. You didn’t even know where our fridge is. I’m the one who should apologize.”
Jess looked up to find him rubbing a hand down his face. Then suddenly, to her surprise, he broke into a wide grin. “There’s only one way to fix this,” he declared.
“What would that be?”
“Well, we can’t go without dessert after a meal like that. What kind of host would that make me?”
“I’m the one who left the ice cream to melt. I suppose I can whip up some cookies if you have the ingredients. I make a mean chocolate chip.”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid we don’t have ingredients for much of anything.”
What was he getting at, then?
“You mentioned you got the ice cream from a well-known town attraction. And that Sonya and I had to check it out sometime. What better time than the present?”
Without waiting for her answer, he picked up his little sister and set her down on the counter. Then he proceeded to sign and gesture. Jess had to bite back a laugh when he made a motion of licking an ice cream cone.
The scene before Jess sent an undeniably clear revelation through her mind. Though their first impressions of each other had been less than idyllic, and though she’d only known him a few short days, she seemed to be growing fonder of Jordan Paydan than she wanted to.
She had no idea what to do about it.
* * *
The place was a madhouse. Jordan took a look around at the hustle of activity around him as they made their way to the ice cream line. The very long ice cream line. A group of kids ran past them and he noticed the look of longing that passed over Sonya’s face. Hopefully, she would meet some of these very same children when she started the swimming classes at the center.
Jess was right. This place offered so much more than ice cream. A volleyball net was set up a few feet behind the ice cream shack with what seemed to be a very intense game. Several diners sat under a large tent full of picnic tables. A couple of teenage boys were tossing a Frisbee in the field adjacent. Across the parking lot was a full-fledged mini-golf setup. Bimby’s was packed with adults and children alike. Not to mention some livestock. Was that a chicken that just ran by his feet?
“Wow,” was all he could manage as they stopped at the end of the line.
Jess laughed at his reaction to all the activity. “This is relatively slow for a Saturday evening,” she said, surprising him.
“I’d hate to see what busy looks like for this place.”
“We’d still be in the parking lot trying to make our way to the ice cream line.”
Several more people came to stand behind them. “We could be here all night waiting.” Though he could think of worse things than enjoying a pleasant evening chatting with the woman standing beside him. He was truly enjoying her company and had been since she’d walked onto his patio a few hours earlier. In fact, the thought struck that he didn’t want this evening to end. Stunning, really. Considering his usual idea of a good evening would be an elegant dinner in a five-star restaurant somewhere Midtown followed by drinks and slow dancing on one of the rooftop clubs that he liked to frequent on dates.
He would certainly enjoy those things with the woman next to him.
Stop it.
This was a simple outing for ice cream. He had to try and ignore the unwelcome attraction to a woman he had absolutely nothing in common with. Nor did he have anything to offer. Not at this stage in his life.
“The lines actually go by pretty quickly,” Jess answered him. “Bimby’s scoopers are experts at ice cream efficiency.”
She was right. In hardly any time at all, they had each received their orders and were sitting at one of the picnic tables. Sonya’s sundae was the size of her head and she was making a complete mess. There was no way she would finish it. But Jordan hadn’t had the heart to tell her no when she’d pointed to the special scribbled out on the chalkboard.
“What do you think?” Jess asked him, lifting her cone and then gesturing to all the activity around them.
“I think so far you’ve proven yourself a commendable tour guide,” he answered. “Who knows when we would have heard about this place if it wasn’t for you.”
She laughed. “It was one of the first places I visited when I moved to the vineyard.”
He studied her. There was so much about her he didn’t know. He found he was terribly curious to find out.
“How long have you lived here?”
“About three years,” she answered.
How did someone like her end up living here full-time? She must have sensed his nonverbal question because she went on to answer it.
“My college roommate grew up on Martha’s Vineyard.
I accompanied her on some of her holiday visits back home. After graduation she moved back and I came here with her.” She took a lick of her ice cream cone and he had to look away in order to continue focusing on her words. “It was only supposed to be temporary. Just for one summer. I was enrolled in graduate school in Boston. I attended just two semesters before realizing I’d made a mistake. Found it wasn’t really my calling.”
“So you came back here.”
Jess nodded. “It was the only place that had ever really felt like home. Though Kelly has since moved on,” Jess added. “Out to the West Coast with a toddler and another baby on the way.”
“You sound as if you miss her,” he said in response to the faraway look that had appeared in her eyes.
“I do. Her parents still have me over for dinner every Sunday that I can make it.”
“Standing invitation?”
She nodded. “That’s right. That’s how this island operates. One of the qualities that drew me to it.”
There was clearly a story there. As much as he wanted to ask, Jordan didn’t want to push. He himself had shared enough for one night. And though part of him felt good about getting some of it off his chest, another part felt drained, even a little exposed.
The chicken strutted by their table again and Sonya giggled at it. Or maybe that was a totally different chicken. Damned if he knew. He was just glad his little sister appeared to be having some fun at long last. Moving to this town had to work out for them.
He glanced over at the woman sitting next to him. She was motioning to Sonya that she had a little chocolate on her nose and was laughing. She leaned over to wipe it when Sonya tried but kept missing the spot. Little did she know, she had a bit of chocolate smeared on her own cheek.
Jordan couldn’t help but imagine all sorts of ways he could help her clean it off.
CHAPTER FIVE
“WHAT IS THAT godforsaken noise?” Jordan asked as they finished up their ice cream. Well, he and Jess had finished theirs anyway. His little sister had more or less taken a few bites then smeared some of it around in her cardboard bowl as she’d gotten it all over herself and her clothes.
“What particular noise are you speaking of?” Jess asked. She had a point. There was a lot going on around them. But he was certain he heard a low-level humming coming from a distance behind the dining tent.
“That constant buzzing that’s always in the background. That noise.”
She stood and motioned for him and Sonya to do so, as well. “Here. I’ll show you.”
Sonya didn’t hesitate. She jumped up and rushed to Jess’s side. The buzzing grew louder as they walked around the tent then behind it. A pungent scent of exhaust filled the air and grew stronger with each step they took. As soon as they turned the bend, he saw it. A small lake surrounded by lush greenery and shrubs. Another long line of people snaked around it. The lake was being used as a venue for gasoline engine bumper boats.
Sonya squealed in delight and clasped her hands together.
Several of the boats were on the water at the moment, manned by kids and adults alike. All of them trying to bump into each other hard enough to either topple the other occupant or at least get them fairly wet.
“You weren’t kidding about this place,” Jordan said. “It really does have everything.”
“Are you up for it?” she asked with a taunting undertone.
“Clearly, that was a challenge.”
“Maybe.”
He gestured toward the line. “Lead the way, madam. Though I feel compelled to warn you how out of your league you will be once we get on that water.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yes. I happen to be an avid boater with years of experience.”
She laughed at him. “These aren’t the kind of boats you’re used to, sir. I must be the one to warn you. Through my three or so summers on Martha’s Vineyard, I’ve become a bumper boat master sailor. With countless trophies under my belt.”
“A master, huh?”
She nodded. “That’s correct. I have a bit of a reputation around town.”
“Nice try,” he teased. “Your intimidation tactics won’t work on me, I’m afraid.”
“Let the record show then that I gave you ample opportunity to back out,” she said with another laugh. “Prepare to be humiliated, my dear sir.”
“I suppose we shall see, won’t we?” He placed a hand against the small of her back and led her toward the line. The warmth of her skin under his palm sent a responding warmth through his skin. Her cropped shirt was just short enough that he could feel a small expanse of her skin. Smooth, silky. She had to feel that way all over, he had no doubt.
The three of them stood in line for just a few minutes before it was their turn. He turned to pick Sonya up and deposit her in a boat. But when he went to step into it, his sister shook her head. Then she pointed to Jess.
She wanted Jess to ride with her.
Jordan wasn’t sure whether to be touched or feel wary. Though Elise was a competent and efficient caregiver to Sonya, the woman wasn’t one to show much affection. Clearly, Sonya was sensing an underlying vibe from Jess that drew her. And it seemed to be happening quickly.
Don’t really blame you, kid.
But it was something he had to think about. Her life had been altered so completely and so often over the past couple of years, even the slightest further upheaval could be harmful.
He held his hand out toward Jess and she complied without any hesitation. She felt light in his arms as he lifted her. For the briefest instant, their eyes met as he held her. An electricity crackled between them that she had to have noticed, as well. Wordlessly, he assisted Jess into the boat his sister occupied then found one for himself and climbed in.
There was no clear victor by the time they each got out. All three of them were soaking wet.
Sonya was laughing so hard, Jordan wondered if she might actually topple over. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d heard her laugh like that. Then he looked in Jess’s direction and he had to suck in his breath. Now that her clothes were wet, they clung to her like a second skin. And they accentuated every luscious curve. The bikini he’d imagined her in earlier couldn’t have been as enticing as the picture she made right now. She shook some of the water out of her hair and he had to clench his fist to keep from reaching over and running his fingers through her thick, rich curls.
He bit out a curse under his breath. He had no business having such thoughts, here of all places.
“Thank goodness it’s a warm night,” Jess said through her laughter.
“They could add to their profits if they sold towels.”
“We should put that idea in the suggestion box.” Suddenly, she stilled and put a hand to her mouth.
“What is it?”
“It just occurred to me that we’ll have to crawl into your car soaking wet. Jordan, I’m so sorry. That car has to be terribly expensive.”
He brushed off her concern with a wave of his hand. Truth be told, he had other things to worry about right now than the leather bucket seats of his convertible getting a little damp.
For one, he had to figure out how to avoid looking at the appealing woman that stood beside him looking dangerously sexy in her clingy, wet clothing.
“Don’t worry about that,” he reassured her.
“Still, we should at least try to dry out a little before we get back in.”
That suited him just fine. Again, he found he didn’t want the time to end.
Jess knew it was simply a matter of time before they ran into someone she knew. It was a common phenomenon at Bimby’s. No real surprise given the popularity of the place and the nature of the community that housed it. They’d decided to take a walk around the establishment in the hopes that the dry evening air would at least make some small progress in lessening how wet thei
r clothes were. Sure enough, she heard a familiar voice behind them calling out her name.
“Jess? I thought that was you.” When she reached them, Clara had a toddler in tow. Her granddaughter. The older woman took in the sight of the three of them and her mouth curved into a smile. “I see you’ve all been on the bumper boats.”
“Hello, Clara,” Jess greeted her then waved to the child with her, who waved back with a toothy grin. “You remember Jordan and Sonya.”
Clara’s smile grew wider. “Of course.”
“I’m just showing the two of them around Bimby’s,” Jess explained after the preliminary round of hellos were out of the way. The two children stood shyly trying to avoid looking at each other.
“Oh, how lovely!” Clara declared. “You can’t find a better local to show you around, Jordan.”
“I have no doubt about that.”
Clara leaned down to tousle Sonya’s hair. “And what about you? Are you having fun?” Without waiting for Sonya’s answer, Clara continued. “Teddy and I were just about to head to the petting zoo.” She pointed to the sign behind them on the gated enclosure that housed the farm animals. “Would you like to come with us? My other grandchildren will be there, too.”
Sonya looked up to her brother for approval.
Oh, Clara. She wasn’t even trying to hide her intent to try and get Jess and Jordan alone.
Jordan signed something slowly to Sonya, who nodded slowly.
“You have a taker,” he told Clara, who then took Sonya by the hand. Jess and Jordan could only watch as they walked away and toward the big metal gate.
Jess let out a long sigh. “Clara is not very subtle.”
“So I see.”
“She means well.”
“I suppose she does.”
Several awkward moments ensued where they simply stood watching other people stroll by. This was just silly, Jess thought. They were both adults. They could certainly find a way to pass some time together while they waited.
“Carla has six grandchildren,” she announced, simply to make conversation. “She’s been married to her high school sweetheart for over forty years.”
