“There's not much to see in the dark.”
“So we'll talk,” he suggested. Surprisingly, she didn't refuse. She started forward and he fell into step beside her, content for the moment just to be with someone instead of having to spend what was left of the evening at home alone.
“I guess you're wondering what's wrong with me, right?”
He glanced sideways at her. “What do you mean?”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, first, I blow off your requests to take me to coffee and give you the cold shoulder, then I pretty much force you to reconsider your offer to buy me a mocha latte, and I follow that up by making a fool of myself over a movie and acting like a wounded little girl before mauling you with kisses in the dark.”
Jordan grinned and nudged her shoulder with his. “Hey, you can maul me with kisses any time you feel up to it. I won't complain, I swear!”
She fell silent for long moments, then glanced up at him. “I was engaged.”
Jordan's gaze flickered to hers and he paused for a moment to say, “Considering what we just shared, let me be the first to express my gratitude that you said engaged, as in past tense.”
He was careful to keep his tone light. He didn't want to admit Sam had already told him about her past, so he held his silence, and moved on. If she wanted to tell him more, she would.
“Four years ago, Daniel and I were a month from—” She dragged in a breath and then continued. “From making what would have been the biggest mistake of our lives. I didn't know that at the time, but he—he'd met someone else. He fell in love with someone else, and he left—three weeks before our wedding.”
Jordan stopped, his eyes searching hers, though he hadn't a clue what he was looking for. Pain, he supposed, but that was obvious. Maybe he was hoping to see indifference? “That must have been very difficult for you.”
“Very.” She started walking again. “In fact, things were so bad I kind of shut myself away. Trying to hide from the hurt, you know? But it didn't work.”
“How long were the two of you together?”
“Since high school. We were like the couples you read about in fairy tales. Everyone expected us to get married and we were so close. I'd already bought my wedding gown.”
“It didn't happen, obviously, but like everyone else, I expected it to. When Daniel broke our engagement and for a long time after, I was lost. I'd always expected to become Daniel's wife, and when he left, I didn't know what to do.”
“You look like you've recovered nicely. A business in town. Volunteering at the shelter. Shopping for cousins who like to drop in on you unexpectedly at the movies to catch a glimpse of your smokin' hot date.” She glanced over at him and he grinned until her brow rose questioningly. He shrugged. “Your sister mentioned not having come to the cinema to spy on you, so I gathered that was what you believed your cousin had done.”
“Mmm, yes. Mindy. And Marc, another volunteer who works part-time at the shelter.”
“You were angry with them?”
“I was, yes,” she nodded. “But it seems kind of silly now, considering the rest.”
“Ah, yes, your kiss mauling,” he teased, and she nudged him with her shoulder.
Giving him a mock glare, she said, “Will you stop? I'm trying to explain, to prove I'm not completely insane in case there's a chance you'd like to try this whole night at the movies thing again.”
“I don't think you're insane, Kaylee. I think you were hurt in the past, annoyed with your friends for being so insensitive to what you are trying to do in the present, and then the movie brought back memories of things you'd rather not deal with right now.” He shrugged. “I figure it was just too much for you to handle at the moment.”
“What do you think I am trying to do?” she asked, latching on to that bit of what he had said.
Jordan shrugged. “Start over? Take back your life? To figure out it's okay to live and love again despite the pain you felt over losing Daniel.”
She stared inquisitively at him for a long time, speculating. Trying to dissect him, he thought. Figure out what made him tick. Finally, she must have arrived at a conclusion because she said, “You're pretty clever, Jordan Parker.”
“Thank you. You're fairly clever yourself, Kaylee Dean.”
She laughed and then hugged herself, rubbing against her arms to try and warm them. “It's freezing out here!”
Holding his coat open in invitation for her to cuddle at his side if she wanted to, Jordan sighed. “If only I hadn't left Sarge with Sammy. I could have whistled for him to bring the truck around, but now we'll have to walk.”
Kaylee stepped close and giggled at his silliness. “How is he, by the way?”
“Sammy?” he asked, as if he didn't know she'd been asking about the dog.
She rolled her eyes. “No, Sarge. Is he getting around easier lately or are his injuries still slowing him down.”
Jordan moved closer to her to share whatever heat was available, smiling into the night in relief at how easily she had moved past her embarrassment over having kissed him earlier. “Well, if you'll agree to meet us here tomorrow when it's daylight, you can see for yourself.”
She went quiet, and he glanced down. Their eyes met and held.
“You really want to see me again?”
He nodded.
“Definitely. Again, and again, and again. Sarge wants to see you, too. Told me so himself before I let him out at Sam's. Will you say yes?” There was a twinkle of merriment in her eyes and he felt an odd sort of thrill to know she was happy in the moment because of him.
“How could I say no to Sarge?”
“Whew! Yowzaa, that was some kiss,” Mortianna said, fanning herself with her hand. “If only good old Jordie's conscience hadn't got the better of him, we might have needed ice water after that one.”
“Mmm. Or a cold shower, at least.” Serephina agreed as she walked over to the couch and sat down with her legs tucked under her. Carefully, she lifted a cup of hot tea to her lips. “But now you see, right? They don't need nudging. If we leave them alone, everything will work out fine.”
“Do you really have to turn every viewing into a lecture, Feeny?” Mortianna asked while scowling down at her wet nails. She'd only managed to polish three when Kaylee got on her toes to kiss Jordan and somehow, she'd managed to smudge one.
“Well, no, actually. After these many years I shouldn't think I'd need to but you insist on trying to meddle and you've even brought Merry in on your little schemes. You think I can't see when you flick your wrists or blink or wave your dainty little fingers here and there?”
With a wistful sigh, Esmerelda moved to put away the scrying dish, ignoring the crooked, devious little smile curving Mortianna's lips as she drew the nail brush down the length of a nail. She had done something. Esmerelda was sure of it. But there was no way in all Witchdom she was about to let on about what she knew.
Besides, Feeny usually managed to make her fess up, and she had little doubt tonight would be different from any other viewing wherein Morty decided to break the rules.
Personally, Esmerelda didn't care how they managed to get the humans together, so long as they did it. After twenty seven long and grueling years of couple-pairing, she could only hope they were nearing the end of their term. Or getting close to making their quota. Or coming to whatever conclusion it was that they needed to meet before this whole Enchanted Hearts for All deal was done for good.
It was all part of the Cupid Pact, she knew, but neither she nor her sisters were getting any younger and she, for one, was ready to have a try at enjoying a life of her own. A love of her own. A chance to know how it felt to be fulfilled and happy and cared for by someone who was not in her immediate family.
Pushing the dish into place, she closed the cabinet doors and flipped the warded catch closed by rote, still deeply lost in thought. Just how long had it been since she, or Morty, or even Serephina had had their own little slice of romance to nibble on?
&n
bsp; Chapter 9
At a quarter past noon, Kaylee glanced up from the book she had been reading while finishing off her lunch. She'd heard a loud bark in the distance and raised her head, staring out over the park toward the parking area beyond the trees.
It had to be Sarge; the bark sounded so familiar. But she still couldn't see either him or Jordan for the trees and the fence blocking her view of the lot. This late into winter, most of the trees were bare but the evergreens and the trunks of the old oaks lining the park were large and effectively obscured her view.
The sound came again and this time she knew it was Jordan bringing Sarge, whether she could see them or not. Sticking a bookmark into the paperback she'd been reading, she laid it on the bench beside her, stood up to pat her hands against her thighs and call out. “Sarge! Come on, Sarge!”
“Oh, wow. You're doing much better now, aren't you, boy?” she asked a moment later, briskly ruffling her fingers through the cream and sand colored fur on his sides when he ran into view and finally jumped up to give her a big, happy doggie kiss in greeting.
“I think it's the Woofy treats Sam keeps slipping him when I'm not looking,” Jordan explained, sauntering up more slowly than Sarge had. He thumbed the retractable leash into a locked position so Sarge could go no further than a few feet away and gestured toward the book and the fast food bag on the bench where she'd been sitting. “Have you been waiting long?”
Kaylee shook her head and reached over to slide her book and the remains of her lunch aside. “About fifteen minutes, but I used the time to get caught up on some reading, so it's all good.”
Jordan glanced at the cover of what was clearly a romance novel and his lips twisted wryly. “Real quality literature you're into there.”
“Yeah, well, unlike real life, things always seem to work in these,” she offered with a shrug. “Besides, she's a favorite author of mine. I found her online about a year ago and I was hooked. But what about you? You don't read?”
She didn't mention the concept, if he said no, was inconceivable to her. Since she'd first learned to read, way back in kindergarten, she'd been a great fan of books.
“I do, but my tastes run more toward Patterson and Cussler, and maybe an occasional Robb.” Sliding around a prancing Sarge who was still enjoying the attention Kaylee was giving him, he sat down on the opposite end of the bench.
“Robb, eh?” Tucking the book that had started their comparison of reading material away in her purse, Kaylee sat and scooted around to face him, tucking her hair behind her ear as she did so. “You know that's a pen name, right? A romance writer's alter ego.”
“Oh, the horror!” he joked, laughing. He was quick to follow up with, “I did know, actually. Loved her Key series, but you'll never catch me admitting it in public.”
Kaylee arched a brow. “Kind of hard to get any more public than this, Parker.”
“Ah, but I'm only sharing the truth with you in a private conversation, Dean.”
“So I can't tell anyone you read romance?” She shook her head and forced her expression into a look of mock disappointment. “What a shame. Cousin Mindy would have a field day with that information. Her latest boyfriend is one of those women-belong-in-the-kitchen-and-men-only-do-manly-things types. She would love to have the ammunition in the fight that your confession would provide.”
“Fine, fine.” He gave in with a put-upon sigh. “You may report your discovery to Cousin Mindy as long as you promise not to utter a peep about me knowing there's a surprise twist near the end of your current read that even I didn't expect.”
“What?” Kaylee's brow rose in very real surprise. “Wait. Now even I don't believe you.”
“It's true.” He raised one hand and stared at his nails with interest. “The guy the heroine's best friend is in love with? She thinks he's a pirate or something equally scandalous, which is why she can never love him. But … ”
He leaned close, his eyes sparkling with mischief to conspiratorially whisper, “He's actually a duke!”
Kaylee gasped and her eyes narrowed. “Which is what she wants anyway! So why doesn't he tell her?”
Jordan shrugged without bothering to offer more of an explanation, but there was still a brilliant gleam in his eye. Kaylee smacked her palms against her thighs again, but this time in annoyance.
“Blast it! I hate it when the author does stuff like that. There's so much lost time between the sub-characters that can never be made up for.” She shook her head in mild disgust with the whole idea, but then a grin slid over her lips. “But wait! That just means there's going to be another book, and now I can hardly wait for more!”
Jordan laughed at her renewed interest and then his expression grew serious. “Never would have pegged you for the romance fiction type, Miss Dean.”
“Especially after last night, huh?” Her grin wilted into a wryly twisted smile of self deprecation and she shrugged.
“I wouldn't have believed you to be an antiques kind of guy either, Mr. Parker, but we did collide outside of Seville's.” Casting him a questioning glance, she said, “You never mentioned what you were looking for that day, or if you managed to find it.”
Jordan sat forward on the bench and snapped the lock free on the leash he was holding to allow Sarge a little more freedom before answering. Watching while the retriever bounded off toward the treeline, he shrugged. “A box. Or, another box, I suppose I should say. I've quite a growing collection of antique letter boxes, all of them sitting empty throughout the house. Taking up space.”
Leaning back again, he shrugged and let his gaze wander across the rather barren winter scenery over her head. “I've been thinking about getting rid of them.”
“But—you just bought a new one, right?” Her brow furrowed in confusion. Why he would add a new purchase to a collection he wasn't even going to keep?
Jordan got to his feet. “So I did. Hey, it's daylight. Now would be a great time for you to give me the Hawthorne Grove grand tour. Unless you have to get back to work soon?”
Kaylee wasn't sure why, but she sensed that he was uncomfortable with the subject. Maybe he didn't want anyone questioning his particular interest in antiques? Glancing at her watch, she stood and gathered up her purse and the remnants of her lunch. “I don't have to be at the shelter until three.”
“Great!” He whistled for Sarge and started walking and Kaylee fell into step beside him as Sarge ambled up to join them. “That means we have time for some window shopping on the square after the park tour, right?”
“If you want. On the way back, we can stop in at the soda fountain on the corner. Well, it's actually a drug store, but they pull drinks in the back. I'm partial to the Lemon Sour, but I think you'll love their Annihilator.”
Jordan winced. “Strange name for a drink.”
Shouldering her purse, Kaylee drew the edges of her coat closer to fasten the buttons and laughed. “I agree, but the flavor is to die for, so it's kind of appropriate. You'll see.”
He looked doubtful, but by the time they left the shop and headed back to the park, he was in full agreement with her. “This afternoon has been great, Kaylee. Thanks to you, I now know more about Hawthorne Grove's commercial sector than probably three quarters of its residents. Do you even remember how many places we peeked into today? Besides the drug store slash soda shop whose finest attribute is a drink of death.”
Gesturing toward her with his now empty cup, he said, “I don't think I'll ever forget that one.”
“We stopped by the Tea Table, which is actually a bed and breakfast that serves high tea, the alternative health store—” Kaylee recounted, counting off each location by holding up a finger.
“Which was aptly dubbed The Herb Garden,” Jordan added. “And even though we didn't go there, you did point out the availability of a nightclub, should I acquire an interest in visiting such a rowdy, noisome place—Bonkers, wasn't it?”
“Bollivers,” Kaylee corrected with a laugh, ticking off another location on
her fingers, “which never opens until after the sun goes down. The owners are a bit eccentric, but their strict after-dark hours still manage to pull in quite a crowd. Then there was Paige's—the bookstore...”
Tipping his head in acknowledgment, Jordan said, “Another brilliantly named establishment, whose owner happens to be Patrick, not Paige, as one would assume.”
“Oh, and let's not forget—” she started, but he interrupted.
“We even managed to peer discreetly through the darkened windows of the only after hours florist I've ever seen—possibly the only one of its kind in existence, actually—with the also highly appropriate name of Nightshade,” Jordan finished for her.
“They have the best flowers, though. My sister, Jo, got me a bouquet from there for my birthday last year and the arrangement lasted for weeks!”
His grin swiftly faded into a serious expression. “I had a really good time today, Kaylee. I'd like to do this again. Well, not this precisely, since we've already window shopped all the shops Hawthorne Grove has to offer, but I'm sure we can think of something to do.”
Uneasy with the idea of seeing him again—on a regular basis, even, if he meant what she thought he did—she looked away, lowering her eyes. “Jordan, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't flattered because I am, but … you already know I have no interest in dating again. I'm not on the market for a fling. At all. I had a good time seeing the town with you today, yes, but I don't think I'm up for—”
“For spending an enjoyable day browsing through store windows? Come on, who doesn't love window shopping? And I'm retired, remember? And bored, Kaylee. Do you have any idea what it's like for a man who's used to being at the beck and call of an hundred people all day to suddenly find himself with nothing to do?”
He leaned his head back and sighed. “At home, I ramble through my big old empty house all day, wishing I knew someone charming, and fascinating, and yes, someone fun to wile away the lonely hours with. Someone who makes me laugh, who loves to surprise me with interesting trivia and tidbits of history, and maybe a little gossip, about this rather eccentric town I've chosen to settle in.”
Something Magical (Witches of Hawthorne Grove Book 1) Page 7
